BEAUMONT, Texas — Campaign Chairman Terry McAuliffe told donors on a conference call just now that Sen. Hillary Clinton raised $35 million in the month of February.
It's a quick push back to Sen. Barack Obama's announcement yesterday that he'd collected cash from more than one million donors since he joined the race in January 2007.
McAuliffe said Clinton has brought in $167 million since announcing her bid, $135 million of that can be used for the primary.
He referenced Clinton's $5 million loan and the outpouring of cash that came when she told voters she had put in her own money to remain competitive with Obama.
"It has never stopped," McAuliffe said. People wanted to say, "I want to fight with you."
He added Clinton, who is slipping in the polls as Obama gains momentum, is "in this thing for the long haul."
"We have the resources to play in the big states coming up," he said, though the campaign has sent out several appeals for cash stating that Obama is outspending them by big numbers.
Obama held a brief press conference on the plane from Austin to here, and said he wasn't sure what his campaign's fundraising totals would be. Though there are rumors it will be $50 million or more, and his spokesman has said the total would be "considerably" more than Clinton's. The candidates will be collecting cash for this month up to midnight tomorrow.
Clinton Internet director Peter Daou noted that $30 million came from grassroots donations online and have been "Nothing short of astounding."
Campaign manager Maggie Williams batted down stories of "bad morale" and said Clinton is the "best candidate in this race."
"I want you to know that what you have given us in terms of resources has helped us to be strategic and smart about how we play this campaign," Williams told the donors, adding that "certainly" they can use more cash.
— Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (10)
Wow, $167 million and she still can't beat him. Luckily, the $32 million earmarked for the general election won't get wasted. After she drops out on March 5th, the funds will get returned and much of it will go to Obama.
Posted by hillaryis44 | February 28, 2008 4:18 PM
Wow is this is true Obama will say anything to get a vote. Hrc supporters should bash him hard on this one. Something new and different. Change? He is a liar apparently
Barack Obama has ratcheted up his attacks on NAFTA, but a senior member of his campaign team told a Canadian official not to take his criticisms seriously, CTV News has learned.
Posted by anonomous | February 28, 2008 4:23 PM
The Republicans seem encouraging Obama's win. Because they know if this term they lose next election, they hoping to recapture the election easily, if Obama is the winner. But if Clinton succeeds her term will be successful, hence no white house for Republican for a good while.
Posted by peter almassian | February 28, 2008 4:44 PM
Wow. You go girl! Hilllary has such passionate support from millions of folks and endorsements as well, yet the media seem happier to tout Obama's money machine. The difference in media coverage has been so stark and obvious. She "pesters" while he "challenges", when she is up by 200 delegates it is a "near tie and virtual dead heat", when he is up 60, it is a "blowout" and "it's over". When she gives a foreign policy speech surrounded by several strong, respected military leaders (with, gasp, experience -- that awful "e" word -- she has 27 of them endorsing her, BTW) with full media in attendance, not one of the media "journalists" shows it live. You can't find clips of it anywhere. Had Obama done the same he would have been hailed "our commander in chief" and that headline would have been splashed on every news outlet available. Ok, let's get real. The reason Hillary was annoyed that she seems to be asked most of the questions first in the debates, is she has clearly articulated her plan and position on every issue and that "who first" format allows Obama to play follow the leader. She outlines her plan, he says "I agree with Hillary" and then is allowed to blather on and on so he gets more air time. Kind of like watching that kid in class keep looking over your shoulder during a test, after you've done all the hard work. He clearly states midway thru the debate that he would "reserve the right" to go back into Iraq (or anywhere) if there was reason to believe it posed a threat to the US. Well, duh?! That's why Hillary voted with John Kerry, Colin Powell, and many Democrats to look further into Iraq under Bush's regime. Also, why has no one mentioned the fact that Obama has voted "present' over 120 times while a senator, when he could have been a leader and taken a stand. We need a leader, not a follower. We need a leader when it is inconvenient, not just when it looks good.
Posted by sunny florida | February 28, 2008 4:54 PM
Change was the platform George W. Bush ran on. He's a uniter, not a divider. How is Sen. Obama different?
Because he's charismatic and he has ideas that transcend race, gender, and religion. Even if his policies mirror Senator Clinton's, he's a much more likeable guy and any educated person knows that you shouldn't make promises you can't keep. That why he doesn't mention how he's going to carry out the promise of change. Why can't people understand that? Isn't the idea of change more important than how to carry it out!
OBAMA 08
Posted by Emmeline | February 28, 2008 5:01 PM
I would like to post a comment, I am a native American, enrolled in a federally recognized tribe, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe in Minnesota.
I would like to think that money is not everything, so maybe obama needs to quite bragging up the money issue. I am a strong supporter of Clinton, as a Federally Recognized Indian in the United States I know she has the ability to understand what this means, as did her husband in the past.
Why would I want to vote for some like obama, when his main support Operha Winfrey once stated on her talk show she would not touch Native Issues as if was taboo, are we to ask ourselves just cause the dudes got dark skin like us does he understand really the role as president and the obligations he represents? Does he know what a treaty is? or will he think like his buddy Operha we a people who are taboo!
I know in the past many worried when clinton offered her view on health care, and wanted to bring to the people of the United States a health care plan that is currently in place for Indigenous Peoples of this land, only racism, lack of knowledge, and drug makers would not make the money they are now, obama's famous words I hear, the money let me show you how much they give me, hell write a book and have it operha of course. As Indigenous People say look closely at their actions, the words can mean two different things, they used to call it talking with a forked tongue.
Posted by Lori Ann Gellings | February 28, 2008 5:26 PM
Obama supporters, use your brain to think for a change. "sunny florida", It's a presidential election, not one of those "healing/make you feel good" seminars. I know better not to cast my vote for that seminar speaker just because he/she make me feel very good by just talking..
Posted by Sa | February 28, 2008 9:43 PM
Obama was counting donors, not dollars. Clinton counters with $167 million total. Not necessarily a good move. $30 million from grass roots organizations. $5 million from her own bank account. Where did the other $132 million come from? How many donors?
Posted by Larry Stone | February 29, 2008 2:22 AM
Hiliary and Bush & Cheney all have experience & lead country into unjust war and down the wrong path
Posted by Anonymous | March 1, 2008 9:58 AM
Hiliary is wrong to claim credit for her husband Bill's achievements
Posted by Anonymous | March 1, 2008 9:59 AM