McCain Raises $15M In March

Sen. John McCain's fundraising is picking up, relatively speaking.

In March, officials said he raised about $15M, his best month since early 2007 and well above his $2M-per-month pace in late 2007. The final number is still being tallied.

$11m came from a spurt in the campaign's high-dollar fundraising. $4m was raised through direct mail and Internet efforts.

A campaign spokesperson did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

The campaign is on track to meet its internal budget goal of about $57M through the start of the Republican convention and an additional $20M for a legal compliance fund.

McCain's fundraising team has also been tasked with raising about $100m into the Republican National Committee's Victory Fund, which will be spent in the fall. The campaign itself has stopped raising money for the general election and intends to accept the $85m from the federal government.

The campaign expects a fundraising boost in may from the efforts of ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney, who has pledged to raise at least $15m for McCain by encouraging his donors to contribute.

Tomorrow night, the campaign expects to raise more than $400,000 from a high-dollar fundraiser at the Willard Hotel in downtown DC.

Comments

internal budget goal of about $57M

Holy Guantanamo, that's all?!

McCain's fundraising team has also been tasked with raising about $100m into the Republican National Committee's Victory Fund

Repeat: Holy Guantanamo, that's all?!

Further proof, that it's going to take a miracle for the GOP to win.

Posted by dry_fish | April 7, 2008 2:36 PM

"The campaign is on track to meet its internal budget goal of about $57M through the start of the Republican convention."

Hmm, how long did it take Obama to raise that much? Let me think. February.

Posted by BR | April 7, 2008 2:46 PM

Since he's in the public financing system how much can he use?

I mean if he doesn't go to jail for violating campaign finance laws pretty soon.

Posted by Jay | April 7, 2008 3:41 PM

Hey Marc, looks like msnbc's First Read is just taking your blog wholesale and posting it on their site. I've noticed a bit of an echo chamber and a hotlink frenzy on other sites, notably Ben Smith on Politco. Guess msnbc's decided you should do the heavy lifting. Is Chuck Todd on vacation?

Posted by Gabriel | April 7, 2008 4:34 PM

pitiful.

Posted by Brent | April 7, 2008 4:47 PM

Hello, Marc, commenters-

I have linked to Marc's post on my site:

http://blog.electionnighthq.com/2008/04/07/the-atlantics-ambinder-mccains-fundraising-is-picking-up-relatively-speaking/

(For some reason, although I put in the trackback URL that Marc helpfully provides on all posts, it won't trackback.)

I agree with the commenter BR's point above, that obviously McCain's fundraising is lagging far behind those of the Democratic campaigns, especially Obama's. The remarkable small-donor base that is fueling Obama's machine, is going to be very difficult for the McCain campaign to overcome.

However, I think that Marc's point is well taken, which is that by McCain standards (or even by pre-2008 cycle standards), $15 million was a great month.

Some of you may remember that back in the crowded-field days of the first quarter of 2007, McCain was heavily criticized for raising "only" $13 million in a quarter - an average of "only" $4.33 million per month. It's hard to believe how much changes in a year in politics.
http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/04/19/cq_2598.html?pagewanted=print

The lead quote, which was absolutely true a year ago:

"A report of $13.1 million in campaign receipts in the first quarter of the election cycle is the stuff dreams are made of for most of the 2008 presidential contenders.

Yet for Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, who reported that total, the fundraising figures for the first three months were widely reported as a setback. Even McCain pronounced himself disappointed with his early fundraising results."

Thoughts are welcome.

Posted by ElectionNightHQ.com (McCain site) Publisher | April 7, 2008 5:24 PM

This is not a contest between a Liberal and a Conservative. It is a contest between a Liberal (HRC or Obama) and a Moderate (Mccain).

No Liberal has won the White House in 50 years. 50 YEARS!

Al Gore for President or we are Doomed Come Election Day!

Posted by bryan | April 7, 2008 7:25 PM

OMG....The Obamanites just cannot help themselves. You people are so blindly idiotic. Go back to sticking your noses up Obama's butthole. By the way, money won't matter. McCain WILL win the election.

Posted by Tom | April 7, 2008 10:35 PM

Tom,

What country do you live in to say that money doesn't matter in a presidential election? Are you delusional or what? Traveling, paying campaign staff, buying tv time, summary getting your message out matters and requires a lot of money. GWB money was one of the most significant variable that helped him win the election, 2004. Next time before talking nonsense, think first. Obama wins in 2008 and you will have to deal with it.

Posted by jeanba | April 7, 2008 11:18 PM

As Kos points out, the majority of money raised by McCain is from large donors who cannot donate anymore. His grassroots support -- small $ donors like the ones providing so much money for Obama -- is terrible. He might as well start wearing corporate logos.

Posted by Seth | April 8, 2008 1:37 AM

Tom, why don't you get your head out of your own butthole?

Posted by Pug | April 8, 2008 9:22 AM

You know the funny thing is I thought that the Republican party was the party of the rich? That is what everybody on the Democrat side preaches. Yet when I analyzed the donor's list, going back to even W's campaign, the "upper" class mostly donated to the Democrats, and Corporations donated to both sides to play both sides of the fence. So much for that idea.

Posted by Fernando | April 8, 2008 9:23 AM

If McCain puts Romney as his VP then the money will come rolling in because there is such a base of support for Mitt that are not excited about McCain. Even though Romney spent a lot of his own money he also RAISED more money than the other Republican candidates.
McCain/Romney in 2008!

Posted by MK in Arizona | April 8, 2008 12:12 PM

It's his to loose, unfortunately & he's trying his damnest to piss off his conservative base voters. McCain, tests the gag reflex of the "true" conservative with his amnesty and global warming adjenda.

Posted by Greg | May 22, 2008 9:31 AM