Dean Has Clear Fundraising Lead Now

[tsipple]

Among Democratic presidential contenders, Howard Dean now has the clear fundraising lead. Here's why.

- Dean did not transfer any funds from a Congressional or Senate account. For example, according to FEC records, Gephardt transferred $2.4 million and Kerry, $2.6 million. These one-time transfers were the result of years of fundraising. (Yes, it's money, but it wasn't all raised immediately and expressly for presidential purposes.)

- Dean's accounts receivables are the highest because of pending matching funds. He has at least $7 million pending, possibly two times the next Democrat. That's because Dean raised large numbers of donations of $250 and less, the kind that qualifies for matching funds.

Granted, fundraising is not everything, but it is pretty amazing, especially when you consider all the traditional money sources available to Congressional and Senatorial Democrats.

[JohnKerryAZ04]

1. Wrong, we'd still have more cash total

http://www.opensecrets.org/presidential/index.asp

John Kerry has 16 million, but lets minus the 2 million.

That still puts us at 13.5

Dean only has 10 total raised total.

THATS A FULL 3.5 MILLION MORE!

PLUS

http://www.opensecrets.org/presidential/summary.asp?ID=N00000245

JOHN KERRY= Cash on Hand: $10,927,807

howard dean= Cash on Hand: $6,401,348

THATS A FULL 4 MILLION DIFFERENCE!


Kerry has more money and spends less money as a %

[Larkspur]

2. But Kerry will only get 25-33% of FEC matching funds

Dean will get 60% and that's where he is killing the Establishment Dem Prez candidates.

[ModerateMiddle]

3. I do think that it's wonderful

that Dean has been able to access the small donors in such large numbers. I think that's going to be a significant change for future fund raising by everyone. This is the first big election since campaign finance reform, and the Dean people are really adapting well. The other thing that Dean is doing is lighting a fire underneath Kerry, and getting him to be more outgoing and passionate.

I just don't want Dean to be President.

[ModerateMiddle]

4. Kerry is on target

He's the tortoise in this race, slow and sure. He's on target financially, he's raising significant funds and spending wisely. He's got a great organization and he's developing a solid relationship with the press.

I like Dean's fire, I just don't like Dean.