Can the Democratic Candidate raise 200 million?

[ShaneGR]

Howard Dean raised the rallying cry of finding 2 million people to give $100. I began to think about whether this was possible. If you consider that around 3-5% of a candidates supporters usually contribute to his/her campaign, and you consider that the Democratic Candidate is likely to garner at least 50 million votes.... it seems plausible that Howard Dean, or Wesley Clark, or Johm Kerry, etc. should all be able to raise at least 150 million.

I guess what I'm getting at is I think the idea that Bush is going to have such a commanding money lead.... it's a myth.

[neuvocat]

1. I don't think its a myth

but it IS a liability when he had set that sort of fundraising goal in the middle of a recession that he created.

Dean wouldn't have to rely so much on money because he would have the truth on his side-should he get the nod.

[Kathleen04]

2. I do believe

that we have the ability to compete with Bush* financially. Alot of us really want Bush* out and are willing to put our $$ where our mouth is.

[WhosNext]

3. It would be a monumental feat.

To get 2 MILLION voters to donate $100 a piece. It would take a monster grassroots effort to accomplish anything close to that. If Dean can get 2 million people to donate 100 bucks a piece, the White House is his.

[msanger]

6. Dean raising money for congressional Dems

There is a link on the Dean blog asking his folks to donate money to the Democratic congressman in Iowa. A lot of folks on the blog are doing it, in 10 to 50 dollar chunks. These are not folks from Iowa doing this. These are Dean supporters from all over the country.

I think when word of this gets out to the supporters of that congressman, when Dean then asks them to help him out, they are going to be alot more likely to pitch in 10 or 20 bucks.

Everybody doesn't have to donate 100 bucks. SOme donate 2,000, some 20.

[AndyTiedye]

13. $200 Million IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH

$200 Billion is just what the GOP will spend on paid advertising.
It doesn't count all the FREE advertising Bush* is getting
from FauxNews and the other networks.

We need BILLIONS to compete with that.

[davidinalameda]

4. it's possible

and I know that I'll be one of the 2 million donating

[SoCalDem]

5. We could raise a BILLION, but

if Diebold is in the mix, it really won;t matter..All that has to happen is for the media to keep saying how "close" the races are, and then a few votes here and there get "re-adjusted" and Wham.. we lose..

We MUST fix the voting mechanics BEFORE the election, or we will never know who won..

It's so sad that people will give their hard earned money to a candidate who might have really won, but will never serve.

[nannygoat]

21. Did you see Paul Krugman's column about this issue?

Hack the Vote
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/print.php?sid=13996

[_NorCal_D_]

7. With all of our help

he (or she) could. B-)

[Demobrat]

8. Yes.

Two million people giving $100 is easy to get your head around, but that's an average. 500,000 giving $400 works too, and Dean's got that many supporters now. No, most can't afford $400, but some can, and some can afford more. It'll happen.

[JackSwift]

9. We are going to raise more money for the nominee than Bush

can raise for himself. Pure and simple. We will use the internet to do it. I'm going to donate the maximum to the nominee, and I'm going to get everyone I know to do the same. We're going to crush the Oedipal creep.

[Demobrat]

10. Yep. Once the general election gets close

and more and more people get on the train, he's toast. I was talking about Dean in a coffee shop the other day, and a old Mexican man who heard me came up and said "I would give $71 to get rid of Bush". I told him he would soon get his chance. I don't think two million people would give $71 to get rid of Bush. Personally, I think 20 million would.

[Upfront]

11. All Ready Pledged

and gave. It is time folks.

[Demobrat]

14. I'm up to $600

and let them ding my credit card for $20 a month for the next 8 months, because that's what the guy on the phone asked for. They'll get their $2000 out of me by then, though. Best money I ever spent.

[Julien Sorel]

12. How many people use the internet regularly?

How many people are committed to politics?

How many people are so politicized they are willing to part with 100 bucks?

How many people feel safe transmitting financial data over the internet?

How many people will feel they can afford to give?

How many people can afford to give?

How many of those people are Republicans?



Is it possible? Yes. Is it likely? I don't think so. I think it's more likely that people are going to find donating money over the internet helps the affluent, wired side the most. Stop seeing the world as if it's a mirror, folks -- the people here and the people donating to political campaigns online are not average Democrats. In the neighborhood I grew up in, I don't think too many people are surfing the web right now, although lots of them are Democrats. Take away the ease, quickness, and immediacy of internet donation, and things start slowing down quite a bit.

[THUNDER HANDS]

15. one difference

The money Bush has to spend won't be used in a primary. The money Dean, Kerry, Gephardt, Edwards, ect, spend will.

That also means that the people who've already donated have less to spend the second time or third time or fourth time once their candidate gets the nomination.

Bush will probably raise $195 million and whoever the Dem is will probably raise about $120 million.

[ramapo]

16. Shouldn't be so hard

Two million people really isn't that many. Hell that's 40x a good crowd at Yankee Stadium. And it costs almost $100 to go when you include your ticket, parking, tolls, a couple beers & hot dogs.

It would be a most powerful campaign message to profile 2,000,000 Dean supporters at $100 each vs. 200,000 Bush buyers at $1000 each

[quaker bill]

17. I have never contributed this much before

and I am just getting started. My friends have never contributed this much before and they say that they are just getting started as well.

My personal experience suggests that money will not be the problem.

[TLM]

18. The question goes right back to you.... will you give Dean 100 bucks

when he wins the nomination?

[bluestateguy]

19. I bet you can...

We may lose this election, but it won't be because of money. The hatred for Frat Boy on the Left is intense enough that I think the money will be there to match his campaign dollar for dollar.

[nannygoat]

20. Did you guys hear about the Swedish students

who are trying to get everyone in the EU to donate $1 to MoveOn.org to defeat *?

Democracy Aid '04
http://hem.passagen.se/democracyaid/

With help like this maybe we could raise the $200 million and more!

[arewethereyet]

22. it would be nice but history doesn't favor it

but this time is about breaking the mold to some extent or other. Things really have to be different this time around, the bar is being raised and we either put up or shut up. We are the cavalry, if we don't ride i to save the day, noone else is standing by.