Dean Leads Dems in Fund-Raising for 2004

By SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Front-runner Howard Dean has broken former President Clinton's Democratic record for most money raised in a three-month burst, while new rival Wesley Clark is turning to some of Clinton's most loyal and effective fund-raisers to help him jump-start his presidential campaign.

No Democrat is coming close to President Bush's fund raising, however. Bush is expected to collect about $43 million by the time the third quarter ends next Tuesday, bringing his total this year to roughly $78 million, GOP officials said.

Dean, raising millions on the Internet, is likely to take in $13 million to $16 million this quarter, a campaign insider said. That would lift him to at least $23.5 million for the race so far and likely make him the Democratic money leader for the year.

Democratic strategists say Dean could raise at least double what his party's other top hopefuls will collect during the third quarter. The former Vermont governor has already passed the Democratic record set by Clinton, who took in $10.3 million over three months in 1995 for his re-election.

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Clark is on pace to collect $2 million or more by the time the fund-raising quarter ends, after only two weeks in the Democratic race. The retired general, like Clinton an Arkansan, is getting a boost from some of the former president's most prolific fund-raisers.

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John Kerry, Dick Gephardt (news - web sites) and Joe Lieberman are expected to be in roughly the $4 million to $6 million range in third-quarter fund raising. John Edwards is expected to come in below that, along with the other four candidates in the 10-way Democratic race.

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http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=694&u=/ap/20030924/ap_on_el_pr/presidential_money_2&printer=1

if it was in the 13-16 million it would be double what he did in the second quarter. I think it could be closer to $20 million myself.

Clark leads in some polls.

the polls Clark leads in are national and as such don't mean anything.

when/if he starts outpolling Dean in Iowa or New Hampshire that'll be interesting.

I think even Gephardt is still ahead of Clark in Iowa...

when they had Lieberman in the lead.

If the RNC wanted Dean to win and chose to support his campaign, could they funnel money thru the internet in such a manner to give him a boost.

My assumption is the RNC has a favorite they would like to face off against, and considering they are firing all barrels at Clark right now indicates they would prefer Dean or Kerry. Dean would be easier to demonize by the right on issues of gay rights and war on terror.

Would the RNC have the capability to funnel money thru the internet toward Dean?

The one where they quote senior republicans as being very concerned about Dean?

Oh wait, that is what they want you to think :eyes:

Dean is electable.

Because if he isn't, that means only a reagan-supporting Dem and a war-supporting Dem are.

I'd be very, very worried for the state of the USA if that is the case.

it would still be unpatriotic to criticize Bush. But now we're supposed to forget who spoke for us when nobody else would, and vote for a chest full of medals, just cuz. I don't think so.

I'm glad someone said that. :toast:

who spoke out when it was not safe to speak against Bush. About the war in particular, but the other issues also.

I think Clark will sort of fizzle out. The real issues of economic importance will be bubbling up to the top in the next year. They have been suppressed by 911, Bush wars, FED interest rate cuts, deficit spending, tax cuts, etc. but now we have to face the reality of the U.S. economy. We don't need a general, we need someone to run the government and fix the economy, health care, etc.

I was surprised to see it reported yesterday that someone from the GAO was alarmed at the current and projected deficit and said that we are in deep, deep trouble. Surprised because it's not often that you read stories negative about the state of the economy.

Remember what got Bush senior was the economy. It will be the same for junior, but much worse.

Dean/Clark gotta be the Dem one-two punch for as long as possible, giving each other cover and tag-teaming the VRWC.

Dean needs Clark and he is smart enough to know it.

... , who took in $10.3 million over three months in 1995 for his re-election.

Note that the bat is at 0.9 million, right now.

that I am incredibly proud to be part of this record-breaking quarter.

I will probably give to the limit this quarter, except maybe a few bucks held back for inspiring moments or fundraisers next quarter. I am fortunate to be able to afford this, but it's not pocket change for me. I have my own business, am the sole earner in my family of 4, and have a big mortgage and ever-increasing health insurance costs. I'm not complaining -- on the contrary, I am thrilled that I can do this.

I have never given a penny to a candidate before. I chose to give to charities and specific causes in the past, because I never thought any candidate deserved my time or money (well there was that one year that I walked the neighborhood hanging "Vote for Jesse Jackson" signs on doors...that makes me nostalgic...).

Tonight, I am so proud.

ps) As I was writing this, I checked my email and my good friend Larry, the ex-Republican -- who has turned all the way around from voting for Bush to listening to Pacifica radio -- just donated another $250 to the campaign, through my page.