Rothschild (Progressive Mag.) - Dean, Kucinich Democratize Fundraising

The latest financial numbers are now in, and Howard Dean is way ahead in what the pundits call the first primary: the money primary.

In the third quarter of 2003, Dean pulled in $14.8 million--more than three times as much as his nearest competitors.

The amazing thing about this is not the tally itself, but how Dean accomplished it. Rather than relying on clubby fundraisers for the superrich, Dean has democratized the way to bring in the dough. And he's done this mostly via the Internet.

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A chart by the Center for Responsive Politics shows the reliance of most of the Democratic candidates on donations at the $2,000 level. (The percentage is of all contributions greater than $200. See opensecrets.org.)

Edwards: 67%
Gephardt: 56%
Lieberman: 54%
Kerry: 53%
Clark: 31%
Braun: 30%
Dean: 13%
Kucinich: 12%
(Accurate information for Sharpton was not available.)

more...

http://www.progressive.org/webex03/wx101703.html

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http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/10/16/mgrind.day.money/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- You know you've had a good fund-raising quarter if the financial report being submitted to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) is taller than the candidate submitting it.