Question about fund raising numbers

[jls4561]

My inbox gets requests for donations to various Democratic politicians, some of which elicit a donation.

Some say “Please help us reach our goal before the deadline.” I understand that there are dates when a candidate has to report to the FEC, but what does it matter if I donate before or after that deadline? I know some debates have fund raising criteria. I assume that if a candidate generates X number of dollars it creates momentum to bring in more dollars. I can guess that a campaign might say “Yeah, we met the fundraising goal, we can now buy more ads in our target market.”

Can someone more politically savvy than
I am tell me why it is so important that a candidate to meet his or her monthly/quarterly goal?

Thanks for your help.

[keithbvadu2]

1. Pressure to get more money. Like televangelists, always need more, desperately.