Illinois Senator Barack Obama raised at least $25 million in the first quarter of his presidential campaign, just below the total of Democratic rival and top fundraiser Hillary Clinton.
Clinton, a New York senator, reported on April 1 that she raised $26 million and added another $10 million from her Senate campaign account. Clinton had previously proven herself one of the best fundraisers in the country, bringing in $51 million for her 2006 re-election campaign that had no real competition.
Obama’s take helps fortify his position as a frontrunner with Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination.
The third-place contender, former vice presidential nominee John Edwards, raised $14 million in the period.
“The overwhelming response, in only a few short weeks, shows the hunger for a different kind of politics in this country,” said Penny Pritzker, Obama’s finance chair, in an e- mailed statement.
Obama’s campaign emphasized the number of donors as evidence of widespread support. Obama received contributions from more than 100,000 people, his campaign said. Clinton, 59, reported receiving donations from 50,000 people.
Obama, 45, also reported that his total included at least $23.5 million for the primary election. This is the first modern campaign in which all the major Democratic candidates are raising money for both the primary and the general election instead of relying on public financing.
General Campaign Funds A candidate can only use funds raised for the general campaign if he or she wins the party nomination, and Clinton hasn’t disclosed how much of her $26 million is intended for the general election. Edwards said such contributions made up only $1 million of his $14 million total.
Obama was the last major candidate to give an estimate for the first-quarter figures. All the candidates must file reports to the Federal Election Commission by April 15 with details on their contributions and spending.
On the Republican side, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney led the pack by raising $21 million. One-time frontrunner John McCain, an Arizona senator, raised just $12.5 million, trailing former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who brought in $15 million in the period.
