Has Dean overreached with his five bats/$5 million challenge?

[dolstein]

He's met all his on-line fundraising targets so far, but the contributions seem to have slowed, and with seven days to go, he's still only 18% of the way toward his goal of raising $5 million during the last ten days of September.

[FubarFly]

1. Maybe, but so what?

The total quarter fundraising news will more than offset any dissapointment some people may have.

The Dean campaign is trying some very new and innovative things. Not all of them are going to work. The fact that all of them so far have is a pleasant bonus.

[AP]

2. Problem is, it was a great idea to aim high....before Clark entered

If he doesn't make it, then people will say that Clark is the reason.

But, you know what, I think these fund drives are orchestrated. I think Dean asks his big donors to wait to donate by the web during the last couple days. I think the know the publicity value of these drives, and the set them up so they don't fail. The probably ask people to wait until the end.

I also think they ask big donors to make multiple small donations, rather than one big donation. I was surprised to see so many multiple donations by one person within the same quarter. I make my donations once per quarter because I know that people look to the quarterly totals. Why would anyone give more than once per quarter (if they're giving 1000-2000 in one quarter)? Because they know there's something to be gained in saying that you raised a lot of small donations in one quarter.

[w4rma]

3. Q2 & before: 83,041 DONORS. Only 891 of those DONORS donated $2K

Of the 83,041 donors overall, only 891 have maxed out, enabling over 82,000 of them to continue to contribute funds to the campaign in the future.
http://blog2.deanforamerica.com/archives/000691.html

[Demobrat]

I give more than once per quarter

because I'm a sucker. The bat goes up, I give. I get a letter, I give. Some troll shows up on the blog, hello trolls4dean.com. A team leader needs help to hit a goal...you get the picture.

[JaneQPublic]

5. I make multiple donations per quarter

But I don't do it to bring down the average size of Dean's donations; I couldn't care less about that.

Rather, I do it because I find it's less "painful" to my cash flow situation to simply budget a small donation to Dean out of each paycheck, sending it in when I pay the rest of my bills.

[Larkspur]

8. Big donors?

That average donation last quarter was over $80.

Dean has lots of small time donors and some big time $2,000 donors. Remember, individuals can only donate up to $2,000 and PAC's $5,000 per year. Dean doesn't have a lot of PAC money.

I've donated twice this month. I have a monthly donation on scheduled withdrawal, and my 2nd donation is for this Monday's house party. And on Sep 30, I may donate again, even if it is just $10.

Lots of Dean's small time donors like the "bat" and it motivates them to donate.

[dsc]

10. Maybe in your world people have money siting around

but in mine they don't. I give when I can. I think others do as well. But conspiracy stories and without evidence are much more fun aren't they?

[sangh0]

14. In your world too

I hate to break it to you but we all live in the same world, and in this world, there are people who have money sitting aroung.

Thinking that everyone is as non-wealthy as you is much more fun than realizing how much money is involved in politics, isn't it? Composing leading questions that are based on false premises is even more fun, right?

[dsc]

25. It was he who claimed to be unable to understand why

people would give more than once a quarter. You might try reading posts before answering but that is too much for Dean bashers I know.

[sfecap]

27. Where do you get this stuff?

LOL.

I'm a "big" donor, and no one from the Dean campaign has ever said anything other than "thank you".

[artr2]

4. I don't think they would have stuck their neck of if

they wern't sure they were going to make it. Isn't it better to aim high and get people to try harder or pretend your * and lower the expections so you look better.

[Cha]

9. It's better "to aim high"! ...low expectations Suck!

[sangh0]

15. Tell it to Bush*!!!.........nt

.

[Cha]

29. I stand by what I said!

And yes bush does Suck.

[tinnypriv]

6. You sound devastated

;-)

[pruner]

7. the current toal only reflects online donations

a lots of checks have been sent in and not yet added to the tally.

also, the house parties taking place all over the country next week are sure to bring in a lot of money.

and, as we've seen in the past, there's always a rush of donations as the deadline approaches.

I have no doubt they'll collect $5 million during these 10 days, and wouldn't be surprised if they end up raising more than that.

[GumboYaYa]

13. I'm waiting to right my check at a house party next week.

I personally have talked to at least ten others who are doing the same.

[dean4america]

16. good point

someone on the blog mentioned they had been at a Dean event (didn't specificy) on the 15th of this month, yet their check had yet to be cashed. And this was before the bats went up. It would be unlikely to add whatever the amount of the check is to any total before it actually goes through and is cashed (at least, IMHO). I just sent a pretty sizable donation in on Monday via check, so it probably hasn't even arrived in Burlinton yet.

Also, Dean's fundraising events are going to bag about 1.25-1.50 million during the bat push. he'll get there. (but it will be close).

BTW, a talking head on CNN with Judy Woodruff just mentioned that Dean would get "20 million" this quarter.

[Romberry]

11. Ask me that question again...

...at midnight PST on September 30th. My finances are such that I will not be able to donate until September 30th when I'll be kicking in another hundred bucks. I expect I am not alone in singing the "It's the middle of the month and I got more month than money" blues. :)


On edit...

At just under three days in, we would need close to 1.5 million to be "on target" if the pace of donations was steady. Right now the bat stands at a shade over 900 grand so instead of getting 500 grand a day it's bringing in about 300 grand. The thing is, donations tend to not be "steady" at the end of the FEC filing period. The last time around there was a massive acceleration of donations, especially in the last 24 hours before the deadline. Even if the target is missed, and I don't think it will be, the present pace generates more than 3 million dollars in online donations over ten days. 300 grand a day ain't chump change. In any case, I expect the last 48 hours of this drive to be a wild ride. Hang on!

[Jacobin]

12. Whatsa matter?

Does Lieberman want some of Dean's money?

Bwahahahahaha

[StopTheMorans]

17. that was good;)

n/t

[quinnox]

18. I have some doubt they will make it

I also would be surprised if Dean raised more than 15 million.

[StopTheMorans]

19. well with that and 5 bucks

you can buy a beer here in Boston:)

[Cha]

23. Expensive ..the "beer" in Boston!

:D

[StopTheMorans]

24. well, I was assuming that it was a good beer

and I also assumed a tip of at least a dollar:)

[stickdog]

20. No. I'm waiting.

And so is everybody else I know.

[Demobrat]

22. Why are you all waiting, just out of curiosity?

For the fun of seeing the thing explode the last day? I threw mine in the moment the bat went up. Couldn't restrain myself.

[stickdog]

26. Because we've only got so much money.

Half at the house call & half the last day.

[CMT]

21. I'm not sure he will meet it either, but who cares

The $5 million was just icing on the cake, he passed the Clinton record weeks ago. Infact, if he did do $5 million in ten days it might be more than some campaigns raised in an entire quarter.

So what if they aim high? When the overall numbers from the quarter are announced Dean will have made history for a Democrat--and from predominately small donations.

Watch out this weekend lots of house parties are being held and we will see a big spike in the bat.

[TLM]

28. I doubt it... last time the big bump came in the last 20 hours or so.

As the clock ticks down, we'll see the numbers going up faster.

I seriously doubt the Dean folks would set a goal they couldn't reach. There is a large event on the 30th in LA... and knowing the Dean Team, that's probably where the big grand slam will take place.

[Sterling]

30. I think I will caugh up a few more $

Just to piss doltstien off.

[stickdog]

31. That's the spirit, Sterling.

I've got a "Take Back the Party" fund going as well.