If you read the headlines, "Clinton's fundraising reaches historic heights", "Hillary Clinton sets fundraising record", "Clinton shatters fundraising records," you'd think that Hillary was well on her way to wrapping this thing up.Not so fast. Patrick Ruffini is reporting today that Obama will come in at $22 million to Hillary's $26 million (Hillary also transferred another $11 million from her Senate campaign). That takes a lot of wind out of the sails of Team Clinton. They are not sweeping the field and a majority of fundraising dollars raised in Democratic circles are going to folks who are Not Hillary. Take John Edwards, for example, who Patrick reports will raise about $14 million.
Days before the Elizabeth Edwards announcement, I had all but written Edwards off based in part on his online fundraising numbers. Those numbers have since more than doubled, rising by $1.5 - 2 million. It's clear that Edwards has retained a vast network of traditional donors that belies his recent focus on becoming a labor/netroots darling (24 social networks... oy). Considering the breathless Hillary/Barack coverage over the last two months, Edwards has officially regained the mantle of sleeper.The Clinton camp will try to get as much mileage as they can out of the numbers. It really is a record, but Edwards looks like the real winner here. Unlike Barack and Hillary, he's not getting much Hollywood love, he's been buffeted by a botched blogger hire and focus on his big house, and most recently cancer has struck close to home. Not the best quarter, to say the least, and yet he still has $14 million. John Edwards is for real.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 2)
16. As a supporter of Edwards, I've been really frustrated these last few months as the media have been acting like it's a two-person race already. I know the media is lazy and want to root for the Big Story (i.e., a woman or minority getting the nomination), but now's not the time to let novelty become priority over substance.
I mean, come on -- Edwards was the VP Candidate last year and the media are acting like he's a nobody! Let's get real.
That's why it's all that much more important for Edwards supporters to back him early and often. We need to let everyone know that *we* decide who we want to vote for -- not the media! :)
Dutch Hedrick at 5:01PM on Apr 2nd 2007
17. JOHN EDWARDS IF HE WINS WILL BE OUT OF SYMPHONY
FOR HIS WIFE. I THINK IT'S A SHAME,HE SHOULD DROP
OUT,HIS WIFE IS GOING TO NEED HIM AND HE NOT GOING TO ABLE TO BE THERE FOR HER. YES SHE SAID
SHE DOESN'T WANT HIM TO DROP OUT!!!!WHAT IS SHE
SUPPOSE TO SAY!!!
cindy at 5:05PM on Apr 2nd 2007
18. Evidently, no one outside North Carolina realizes that Mr. Edwards is a VERY wealthly man, yet he projects to be a 'simple man'.
And it's a shame he's using his poor wife's illness to gain sympathy votes, plus $$$$$$$.
Brona Vest at 10:11PM on Apr 2nd 2007
19. MRS. CLINTON IS A VERY SMART WOMAN I WILL VOTE FOR HER ANYDAY
WANDA at 7:24PM on Apr 2nd 2007
20. I THINK THAT ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MINDS WOULD SHUTTER AT THE THOUGHT OF ANOTHER CLINTON IN THE WHITE HOUSE. OF COURSE WE KNOW THEY WOULD BOTH BE THERE, AND THERE IS NO ONE WHO IS FOOLISH ENOUGH TO BELIEVE THAT BILL CLINTON WOULD NOT BE RUNNING A LOT OF THE SHOW. THE CLINTON'S HAVE HAD THEIR MOMENTS OF FAME, AND IT IS TIME THEY GOT KNOCKED OUT OF THAT ARENA. PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE A WORD THEY SAY TO BEGIN WITH. DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK PEOPLE'S MINDS ARE THAT FORGETFUL, THAT WE DON'T REMEMBER THE TURMOIL OF THE 8 YEARS THEY WERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE?????? COME ON. OBAMA SHOULD NOT BE EITHER. HIS PERSONAL IMAGE A LOT DOES NOT CARE FOR, AND I MEAN A LOT.
LINDA
LINDA FONTAINE at 7:37PM on Apr 2nd 2007
21. It would be very refreshing to have a Presidential
candidate and winner like John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth who like many families in America have dealt with difficult issues in their lives. Yet, their family and marriage have managed to stay together through thick and thin.
It would be nice to have a President with those qualities.
JEFE at 7:58PM on Apr 2nd 2007
22. I am a long standing republican and I am almost ashamed to admit it. I think it's about time both parties come forward with a fresh face. Just the thought of some of the candidates running at this point is revolting. More of the same old self indulgent political madness from both camps. I know America can do better than this. I don't know how we have managed to survive the last 230 years but one thing for sure, we certainly have not learned from our past mistakes. Good God there must be someone, somewhere that can lead this country back to a place we can all be proud of. I just don't see it right now in either party. And as it currently stands, if nothing changes, I will take my republican vote and put it in the box marked John Edwards.
Bruce at 8:25PM on Apr 2nd 2007
23. IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE,DURING MY LIFETIME, WHICH
STARTED WITH PRESIDENT HOOVER, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY MEN, WHY? OVER MANY YEARS I
FELT WE MEN HAD ALL THE ANSWERS TO WORLD QUESTIONS,
BUT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS I HAVE FOUND THERE ARE
THOUSANDS OF BRILLIENT MINDED WOMEN WHO WILL STAND SECOND TO NO MAN. OVER THE YEARS, WE MEN HAVE LOST
TOUCH WITH REALITY, THE WOMEN OF OUR FOREFATHERS
TIME ARE GONE, VANISHED FOREVER,WOMEN ARE NO LONGER
SLAVES TO THEIR HUSBANDS OR MEN IN GENERAL, THEY ARE FREE THINKERS AND GIVEN THE RESPECT THEY HAVE
WORKED AND EARNED.WOMEN CAN AND CAN DO WONDERS WITH
THIS WORLD WHICH WE MEN HAVE MISMANAGED DURING THE
PAST FEW DECADES. NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO
ELECT OUR FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT,HILLERY R. CLINTON.
IF THE LIBERATED WOMEN, WOULD BAND TOGETHER AS ONE
AND SHOW THE STRENGTH THE NEW AMERICAN WOMAN HAS. IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO STAND UP AND TELL THE PEOPLE
OF THE WORLD YOU ARE TIRED OF THE BULL AND YOU ARE
NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE, GO FOR IT LADIES, HERE IS YOUR CHANCE, LET'S HAVE A GENDER CHANGE IN
THE WHITEHOUSE.
Juanas S. Moten at 4:57PM on Apr 4th 2007
24. We have it in our power to begin the world over again, wrote Thomas Paine in Common Sense (1776)
mary at 6:50PM on Apr 6th 2007
25. It's nice to see that someone is a fellow Ron Paul fan. He's the best of all the candidates-- unfortunately, he's so fantastic he could never get elected because he'll never get the support of the big companies and all the lobbies.
www.ronpaul2008.com
As far as the commenter that says the Bible says that homosexuality is immoral-- it places homosexuality in the same pantheon as premarital heterosexual sex, adultery, etc. A sin is a sin. Some readers of the same Bible as you (ministers even!) interpret Sodom and Gomorrah as condemning premarital sex, not homosexuality in general.
So, yes, Hillary and Barack are reading the same Bible as you. They're perhaps even reading it more, considering that they take Jesus' admonition to "love one another" to heart more than you do.
LongLiveIlliniwek at 2:39PM on Apr 7th 2007
26. I supported the Kerry/Edwards ticket last time around, and we surely would not be in this Iraq fiasco had they been elected. Although I think history will view Bill Clinton's presidency in a positive light, I do not think that translates to Hillary. Imagine the uproar in the Republican Party if Hillary chose Bill as her Vice Presidential running mate! That would be a most interesting situation.
However, John Edwards is the most electable candiate in the Democratic Party, and we MUST think electibility first and foremost. I like his positive outlook, and he is a very attractive candidate. I have sent a small contribtion to the Edwards Presidential Campaign, and I will continue to do so to support him.
mslattery at 4:24PM on Apr 11th 2007
27. As a registered Repubican who never votes along party lines, I am discouraged regarding the mud slinging and divisiveness amoungst our representatives in Washington. Did they forget that they are our voices not their own?
Today we need a fresh voice, a person that will unite us,one that will uplift America. I am listening to the candidates. At the moment the most honest and sincere is Edwards, but I'm still open. For sure, the candidate I once supported, John McCain, does not have my vote. I want someone who listens to ALL sides and then makes a rational decision based on true facts and on what is best for ALL.
Norma at 12:26PM on Apr 27th 2007