Hillary Clinton Sets Findraising Bar High
Hillary Clinton is far ahead of the pack in fundraising for 2006–and thus, 2008–despite being essentially unopposed.
Clinton, who faces two little-known Republican opponents in her bid for a second term in November, raised $6 million from Jan. 1 to March 31 — outdistancing the 32 other senators seeking reelection this fall as well as her prospective rivals for the presidential nomination. Clinton has now raised better than $39 million for her reelection effort since coming to the Senate in 2001 and ended last month with nearly $20 million in the bank. Election law allows anything left over from her Senate campaign to be transferred to a presidential campaign.
Not that she’ll have any trouble raising money for that, anyway. Still, while raising a lot of money does not guarantee victory (Remember Phil Gramm’s 2000 run?) it is a significant indicator of support that so many people are placing their bets on her candidacy.
Of note, too, is this:
Among Republicans, Sen. George Allen (Va.) is showing the most fundraising muscle, collecting $1.75 million for his reelection fight and closing the quarter with $7.2 million on hand. Unlike Clinton, however, Allen faces a potentially serious challenge this fall from either former technology lobbyist Harris Miller (D) or Reagan administration Navy secretary James Webb (D), and he is likely to spend much of his war chest to defend his seat.
Allen is widely considered a dark horse for the Republican nomination in 2008. Aside from the Rick Santorum seat, this may be the most targetted race in the country in November. I think Allen wins it, easily over Miller and narrowly against Webb. If he doesn’t, however, I don’t see how he can be a plausible presidential candidate.
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About James Joyner
Check out Bayh’s fund raising at 9.6M cash on hand. Add in Kerry’s 16.5M cash on hand and you start to see that the 2008 democratic primary is going to be clash of the money patrons.
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we are a fortunate lot…we democrats…so many great candidates to choose from…
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Mary,
Yes, every four years you bring a plethora of choices of the democratic party’s finest. Which may be why for the last 40 years only one democratic presidential candidate has managed to get a majority of the presidential popular vote (Carter 1976 50.08%). The field is shaping up to be on track with that record.
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mary,
Speaking as a Conservative…I also think any one of them would be a great candidate….to run against.
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Election potpourri…
Political pickings, prognostications and general musings from ’round the sphere: – Newt Gingrich says the GOP needs to get on the offensive… – meanwhile the GOP leadership makes plans to focus on social issues for the next few months to……
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Dang — I thought Mary was being ironic. Apologies for the misinterpretation, Mary.
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