Dem Donations a Nightmare for GOP

Obama, Clinton cash flow makes McCain's look like a trickle

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 1, 2008 8:44 AM CST

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Dem Donations a Nightmare for GOP — Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., makes a campaign stop at Hemisfair Park, at the Arch, in San Antonio,Texas, Friday, Feb. 29, 2008. Clinton's supporters, while not as fervid as those of Barack Obama, have still sent in enough donations to make GOP strategists decidely... (Associated Press)

Republicans may be enjoying the death match between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, but likely not the phenomenal fundraising of the Democrats. "I look at the Barack Obama campaign in some horror," the GOP national treasurer tells AP, citing Obama's $50-million take in February, along with Clinton's $35 million—together seven times that of John McCain.

GOP strategists worry about an "enthusiasm gap" that's affecting giving as well as voter turnout. If Democrats keep giving, their nominee could feasibly pass up public financing, some $85 million. That's a lot—$1 million a day for the fall campaign—but Obama and Clinton were already spending at that rate in January. McCain is pressuring Obama to stick to public funding, but he has been non-committal. (More campaign finance stories.)

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