Clinton Camp Reports Record Fundraising

Senator's Aides Say Clinton Raised $26 Million In The First Quarter

(CBS/AP)  Shattering previous records, Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton collected $26 million for her presidential campaign during the first three months of the year and transferred an additional $10 million from her Senate fundraising account, aides said Sunday.

The New York senator's total included $4.2 million raised through the Internet. The campaign did not specify how much of the $36 million was available only for the primary election and how much could be used just in the general election, if she were the party's nominee.

The amount outdistanced past presidential election records and set a high bar by which to measure the fundraising abilities of her chief rivals.

The fundraising deadline for the January through March period was Saturday, with financial reports due April 15.

Former Senator John Edwards reported his initial campaign cash drive at $14 million. That's double what the North Carolina Democrat raised in the same time period in his last run for the White House.

Experts have predicted this will be the first $1 billion presidential contest, reports CBS News correspondent Joie Chen. Outrageous as it sounds, it looks like they're right.

Nineteen moths ahead of election day, candidates aren't just running for president, adds Chen. They are running for the money.

Clinton, for example, hit three fundraisers in the 24 hours before Saturday's midnight deadline. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani pressed donor flesh just about every day for the last two weeks.

Republican Phil Gramm of Texas and Democrat Al Gore of Tennessee hold the high-water mark for first quarter receipts: $8.7 million for Gramm in 1995 and $8.9 million for Gore in 1995. Gramm dropped out before New Hampshire held that election's first primary.

Clinton's campaign manager, Patty Solis Doyle, told reporters she was "completely overwhelmed and grateful" by the support.

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Read: Clinton's Fundraising Ace In The Hole

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By not breaking down the amount available for the primaries, the Clinton camp made it impossible to make clear comparisons to past campaigns.

Most of the top tier candidates in the Republican and Democratic fields for 2008 are raising money for the primaries and the general election. The general election money can only be spent if the candidate wins the nomination.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., also has raised money aggressively and aides said he had more than 83,000 donors. Clinton's supporters had fretted in recent weeks that Obama could surpass her in fundraising.

Obama, in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, was coy.

"I think we'll do well," Obama said. "I think that we should meet people's expectations, more importantly I think we will have raised enough money to make sure we can compete for the next quarter and beyond. I think we'll do pretty well."

No Republican presidential candidates had released fundraising totals on Sunday.

For the first time since the post-Watergate era changes to campaign finance laws, candidates are considering bypassing both the primary and the general election public financing system for presidential races. Several of the top candidates are raising both primary and general election money, artificially inflating their receipts.

Candidates cannot touch their general election money and must return it to donors if they do not win the nomination.

The Federal Election Commission ruled recently that candidates could also collect general election money now and still accept public financing later, provided they returned the money they raised. The opinion came at the request of Obama, who then said he would finance his general election campaign if his Republican rival did as well.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., issued a similar challenge.

The first quarter totals are one gauge of a campaign's strength. Compared with previous elections, attention to fundraising during the first three months of this year has been especially acute because the leading candidates have decided to forgo public financing for the primaries.

[randalds]

Voted YES on $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%). (Jun 2005)
Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Mar 2005)
Voted NO on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)
Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
Voted NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)
Voted YES on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations. (Sep 2005)
Voted NO on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior. (Jan 2001)
Voted YES on free trade agreement with Oman. (Jun 2006)
Voted NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade. (Jul 2005)
Voted YES on establishing free trade between US & Singapore. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on establishing free trade between the US and Chile. (Jul 2003)
Voted NO on extending free trade to Andean nations. (May 2002)
Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001)
Voted NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress. (Mar 2006)

More?

[randalds]

What has Hillary done? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
Posted by billysmith6 at 06:41 AM : Apr 02, 2007

Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
Voted NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-*** marriage. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
Voted YES on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
Rated 82% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
Voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's AMWR. (Nov 2005)

Looks to me like she's done plenty. And there's more if you'd like.

[cmp271]

If all this money can be raised why isn't is being raised to improve the schools in our country and help the inner city and rural areas. It shows our country has endless wealth, why not let's use it to help make the US great again.

Whoever pointed out about the spelling, you are A one correct in your point. I can't read this phonetic *** because it doesn't make any sense.

We need to save the english language.

Oh yeah, Hillary go back to Illinois or don't they want you either. It is way too soon to talk about the Presidential election, its how many months away...Hillary who????

[cntryb4prty]

"well wake up america! Its a new world today? why you may ask? because it is time to put a end to our government.!! how you may ask? by this and i hope everyone listting. so get it out there anyway you can ok here goes, sence our own government doesn't want to follow our constitution or any other laws, we the people of this united states of america will not give or PAY ANY TYPE OF GOVERNMENT TAXES,WE WILL TELL OUR WORK PLACE TO CHANGE OUR DEDUCTION TO SAY 10 SO NO TAXES WILL COME OUT. TRY TO RUN THIS COUNTRY WITH NO MONEY COMMING IN..THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN STOP THE BLEEDING IN THIS COUNTRY."

forthepeople - I can understand why you are so upset with the use of your tax dollars. They apparently were wasted on your English education. At least use a spell checker. That would catch a lot of your problems.

listting - listening
sence - since
comming - coming
exectly - exactly
than - wrong word should be "then"
dont - don't
cheatted - cheated
papers - paper

[radiob-2009]

Campaign finance reform, anyone?
Don't count on the Democrats or Republicans to change anything.
Posted by GunOwnerDan

How then do you suggest that campaign finance reform be accomplished then? Congress has to write the law and the president has to sign it into law.

[gunownerdan]

Campaign finance reform, anyone?
Don't count on the Democrats or Republicans to change anything.

[radiob-2009]

forthepeaple Your heart is in the right place but your arse may end up in jail for claiming 10 dependents.

[forthepeaple]

well wake up america! Its a new world today? why you may ask? because it is time to put a end to our government.!! how you may ask? by this and i hope everyone listting. so get it out there anyway you can ok here goes, sence our own government doesn't want to follow our constitution or any other laws, we the people of this united states of america will not give or PAY ANY TYPE OF GOVERNMENT TAXES,WE WILL TELL OUR WORK PLACE TO CHANGE OUR DEDUCTION TO SAY 10 SO NO TAXES WILL COME OUT. TRY TO RUN THIS COUNTRY WITH NO MONEY COMMING IN..THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN STOP THE BLEEDING IN THIS COUNTRY..

I HOPE EVERY AMERICAN DOES EXECTLY WHAT I STATED HERE, GET THE WORD OUT.

THIS GOVERNMENT IS AND WILL NOT HELP THE AVERAGE AMERICAN SO EVERYONE BETTER WAKE UP AND TAKE CONTROL OF OUR GOVERNMENT NOW BEFORE ITS TO LATE.

IF YOU SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING, THAN DONT SAY A WORD, THIS IS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK.

THIS GOVERNMENT HAS LIED,CHEATTED YOU, AND WILL NOT FOLLOW THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY, SO WHY SHOULD WE..

SO GO AHEAD DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO TREAT EVERYDAY LIKE THEY DO WITH NO RESPECT TO THE LAWS AND OUR CONSTITUTION OR BILL OF RIGHTS, SO GO AHEAD HAVE FUN LIKE THEY DO ALL IN WASHINGTON.... THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN TELL THE PRESIDENT FOR ME. DAVID A BELANGER,[e-mail]. GO AHEAD PRINT THIS IN EVERY PAPERS

[radiob-2009]

What our votes mean ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

[realpatriot1]

jairod,

Trust me, it's not just the Repugnants who have problems with Hillary(thier problems are primarily with her husband and the host of vince foster/travel
office/whitewater fantasies that they cling to).

The hordes of Democrats like myself who are far less than 100% behind her see a problematic tendency in her. She's primarily an opportunistic political animal who tends to wet her finger and hold it to the wind before taking a side on an issue. That's not leadership and it's not the kind of character we need to guide us out of this morass.

A person of character would've left Bill's sorry butt on the curb after leaving the White House. She won't because even though he's a lousy husband
he's a great funraiser who owes her. She can also ride the coat tails of his accomplishments. Rwmwmbwe how her 1 assignment with healthcare turned out?

Her campaighn slogan should be" I screwed up healthcare before, trust me to get it right this time." Don't believe the hype.

That said, if she wins the nomination I would vote for her over any of the GOP idiots. I just hope I don't have to.

[radiob-2009]

Why are the democrats and republicans such total prostitutes for big money corporations?
The sheep will follow!!!



Posted by GunOwnerDan

Absolutely agree.

[gunownerdan]

Why are the democrats and republicans such total prostitutes for big money corporations?
The sheep will follow!!!

[jairod]

I am 100% for Hilary. The fact that only extreme right wing reactionary facist are against her is a plus. These right wing reactinary facist love that idiot C minus leader Mr. Bush-league. I can tell by the way they spell. So, give it to me. Let me have it. And, while you're ranting and raving and the spittle is running down your chin, try not to breed in the process. The world is better off without you and your hero, Hitler and his re-incarnation Dubya.

[processor2]

The DEMOCRATS NEW MOTTO:

"Leave no millionaire behind"

OOOPS, that's right, George Soros is a billionaire

"Leave no billionaire behind"

[forthepeaple]

I ALREADY DID, STARTING THIS WEEK I CLAIM 10 DEPENDENTS. BUT IF ALL AMERICANS DID WHAT I PUT OUT , THAN THIS GOVERNMENT WOULD LISTEN TO US. SO GOAHEAD DO YOUR PART. DONT BE AFFAID OF THIS GOVERNMENT

[forthepeaple]

I ALREADY DID, STARTING THIS WEEK I CLAIM 10 DEPENDENTS. BUT IF ALL AMERICANS DID WHAT I PUT OUT , THAN THIS GOVERNMENT WOULD LISTEN TO US. SO GOAHEAD DO YOUR PART. DONT BE AFFAID OF THIS GOVERNMENT

[mike71067]

The fact that Hillary Clinton, the nutty communist from the 90's, beat all other Democrats in terms of fundraising, illustrates that the Democrat party is no longer serving the interests of the people - it has been hijacked by the MoveOn.org-type wackos, and this is what happens. It usee to be that there was the mainstream left wing, and there was the kooky left. Well, the kooky left has become the mainstream, and any candidates that MoveOn.org and the zanies in Hollywood do not approve of don't stand a chance.

[nolalou]

forthepeaple,

Ok, you go first. Just stop paying federal taxes! I hope they let you have email in prison!

[forthepeaple]

well wake up america! Its a new world today? why you may ask? because it is time to put a end to our government.!! how you may ask? by this and i hope everyone listting. so get it out there anyway you can ok here goes, sence our own government doesn't want to follow our constitution or any other laws, we the people of this united states of america will not give or PAY ANY TYPE OF GOVERNMENT TAXES,WE WILL TELL OUR WORK PLACE TO CHANGE OUR DEDUCTION TO SAY 10 SO NO TAXES WILL COME OUT. TRY TO RUN THIS COUNTRY WITH NO MONEY COMMING IN..THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN STOP THE BLEEDING IN THIS COUNTRY..

I HOPE EVERY AMERICAN DOES EXECTLY WHAT I STATED HERE, GET THE WORD OUT.

THIS GOVERNMENT IS AND WILL NOT HELP THE AVERAGE AMERICAN SO EVERYONE BETTER WAKE UP AND TAKE CONTROL OF OUR GOVERNMENT NOW BEFORE ITS TO LATE.

IF YOU SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING, THAN DONT SAY A WORD, THIS IS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK.

THIS GOVERNMENT HAS LIED,CHEATTED YOU, AND WILL NOT FOLLOW THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY, SO WHY SHOULD WE..

SO GO AHEAD DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO TREAT EVERYDAY LIKE THEY DO WITH NO RESPECT TO THE LAWS AND OUR CONSTITUTION OR BILL OF RIGHTS, SO GO AHEAD HAVE FUN LIKE THEY DO ALL IN WASHINGTON....

[radiob-2009]

What our votes mean^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^