COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Presidential candidate Barack Obama leads John McCain in fund raising in the Colorado Springs area where Republicans outnumber Democrats 2-to-1.
An analysis by The Gazette of Colorado Springs found Obama, a Democrat, raised $265,920 in donations as of the end of August compared with $202,626 raised by McCain, a Republican.
The amount raised in the Springs doesn’t compare with the nearly $1 billion raised by Obama and McCain so far, but illustrate a dramatic shift in historical trends.
President Bush’s contributions from the same area in 2004 were three times that of Democrat Sen. John Kerry, who garnered only 35 percent of the vote. Since 1964 when Democrat Lyndon Johnson beat Republican Barry Goldwater, the Republican candidate for president has won.
Colorado Springs resident Mike Maday, an Obama volunteer since Juluy 2007, said he’s seen many unaffiliated voters and Republicans indicating support for Obama.
“I’m just constantly surprised by the support he has, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he won El Paso County,” Maday said. “Well, it would surprise me, but it wouldn’t shock me.”
Of the money raised in the presidential race, Obama has raised $603 million to McCain’s $358 million.
Nathan Fisk, executive director of the El Paso County Republican Party, said the totals could be misleading because candidates’ fund-raising don’t include money given to the national party.
Donations to the Republican National Committee totaled $108,870, while donors sent $24,383 to the Democratic National Committee.
Those donations are used to fund each parties’ congressional and Senate races throughout the country, in addition to the presidential race.
