What happens if Dean fails to raise $1 million by tomorrow night?

[cjbuchanan]

Team Dean is trying to raise $1,000,000 by the end of the Sleepless Summer Tour. At this moment (3:25pm CST 8/25) they are at $617,007. Since the tour ends tomorrow night, there is a chance they might not get another $383,000 in the next 24 hours. (Current amount found here: http://www.blogforamerica.com/)

If they do not, what will that mean for Dean's campaign? It would be the first time they have set an on-line fundraising goal and did not meet it.

Will people say that their internet support is drying up?
Will it mean the power of the bat is shrinking?
Will Rush report on his "failed effort"?

What do you think?

Please do not take this as a knock against Dean. The crowds at his stops are amazing, but we all know that at this point, the media talks more about money then crowds. Also, with all the positive press he has had in the last few months, these could be an opening for some attack pieces.

[meegbear]

1. God will call him home?

:shrug:

[cjbuchanan]

5. I'm glad you got the reference

thanks.

[ronnykmarshall]

2. Turn into a pumpkn?

:shrug:

[Demobrat]

3. He'll make it.

If it looks like he won't, I'll jump in again although I've already donated. I doubt if I'm alone.

[Doctor Pedantic]

4. Word.

Me, too.

[deutsey]

6. Well, it will be disappointing

but the campaign will have at least over $600,000 it didn't have last week. That, in itself, is pretty amazing.

[killbotfactory]

7. The earth will EXPLODE!

Donate now! You don't want the earth to explode, do you?

[DJcairo]

8. There will a loud thudding sound as the Dean campaign hits the ground

[deutsey]

9. and it will be covered by the American Spectator, I mean,

Prowler, or whatever it is.

[killbotfactory]

10. Keep Dreamin'

Ain't nothing stopping the Dean juggernaut

[CTLawGuy]

39. Hey DJ

Im sorry your lame candidate can't inspire anyone to like him, which is partially why Dean is doing so well. However, I'm sick of having to listen to anti-Dean hitmen (or women) from the Kerry campaign.

If you want to help your cause, tell us why Kerry will give Democrats a new and stronger voice and purpose. Voters like Dean because he recognizes that Democrats have become the party of self-conscious milquetoasts who are afraid of Bush because he is "popular". Half this country dislikes Bush and his policies, and until Dean, it seemed no one was out there representing them. Milquetoast thinking is what lost us 2002.

[AP]

11. I don't think they would set the goal if they didn't think they...

...could meet it.

Also, they get a lot of publicity by meeting it at the last minute (like they did with second quarter fundraising).

I predict people will build up tension -- will he? won't he? what does it mean? -- and then he'll blow through 1 million, and they'll get even more publicity.

And, by the way, if you look at Dean's reporting for the second quarter, you see that there are a lot of people who make multiple small donations. I am sure people who donated already to this drive and already in the quarter will pony up again.

[Gigi]

12. Dean contribution

I just put a $100 donation on my credit card so he's a little bit closer to his goal. I think he will make it.

[madfloridian]

13. Condescending remarks.

QUOTE...."Please do not take this as a knock against Dean. The crowds at his stops are amazing, but we all know that at this point, the media talks more about money then crowds. Also, with all the positive press he has had in the last few months, these could be an opening for some attack pieces....."

[KaraokeKarlton]

14. He'll make it no problem...

The bat watchers love the rush they get from making mad contributions at the end. It's the suspense and excitement. I've read a lot of people say they are waiting until the last couple of hours to pitch in. If it looks iffy at all, you'll see a mad dash from his supporters to bring it home.

[dajabr]

16. Yep...

I'll be making my donation right before the rally tomorrow...

[tsipple]

15. Ever Hear of Holding Back?

No? Looks like the strategy is working. :-)

[loyalsister]

17. That is a valid question

I'm a "cautious" supporter, and hadn't thought of that. It would certainly would lead to speculation that his support is wavering. I hope that doesn't happen, because I think this momentum is good for ALL of the Democrats. If it can keep going and even increase, this can ripple out to other candidates for the healthiest primary possible. Possibly, even down to state races if people will do the work to harness it to drive all of the upcoming Democratic campaigns.

[The Sushi Bandit]

18. He could do some more SPAMMING!

[w13rd0]

19. There's the possibility...

...that we won't make it. And if we don't, we don't. The Dean Team keeps setting the bar higher, stays innovative. I guess it's up to us to bump it over the top. Guess that means I've got to contribute at least as much as I spent on pizza last week...

[DrFunkenstein]

20. Dean Is Toast

Not really. He's more of an English Muffin. All those delicious nooks and crannies...

But I digress. I don't think the sky will fall because Dean doesn't make the million mark. His campaign is clicking and it should be a great race!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

28. There's a race?

Hadn't noticed.

[DianeK]

21. trust me...

he will hit 1000,000.00....i like many of his supporters are waiting til tomorrow to kick in only because the last day of the bat is so much fun to watch....watch it..it will be interesting

[blm]

22. They'll reach it.

If Dean supporters have to put themselves in debt, they'll reach it.

[poskonig]

23. Team Dean wasn't loud and clear about a deadline.

I didn't know there *was* a deadline until I read this thread. They could easily raise this amount of money, but they need to be simple and clear what they are doing.

Plus there's always the chance they still make it.

[CMT]

24. Some Dean opponents will have a field day

if he doesn't make it to the full million. Neglecting the fact that the tour he is on is a tremendous success and probably will reach its heights tomorrow night in NYC as far as crowd participation. Also, that raising even $750,000 over the past few days on the internet (primarily) is still a great showing.

Personally, I think he will make it.

[Alex146]

25. I don't see where it says the fundraiser ends after the tour...

maybe I missed it.

I want to see Kerry try this.

[DianeK]

27. go to the blog

deadline is tomorrow..midnight

[polpilot]

26. Nothing.

Dean '04... America's candidate

[UnapologeticLiberal]

29. We'll make the goal

It always shoots up in the last day and the last few hours. But I was hoping we would raise more...usually we far exceed the goal. But they set the bar higher than usual this time, so that is probably part of it.

If anything, the fact that it has felt like it is moving slower should motivate us. This is the first time I have donated when the bat was up, and I plan to give a little more tomorrow if needed. I am trying to get my friends to donate too...they all go to college with me and don't have a lot of money but I tell them if they each give 10 bucks then from American University alone we can raise over $100.

[MercutioATC]

35. I think it's the timing...

$1M will happen, but usually we'd push it way over the top. I think part of the issue this time is that the campaign did this bat just a couple of weeks after sending out contribution letters in the mail. I believe they'd get a better response if things were spaced out a bit better...

[JeniB]

30. Who cares!

His people will have to go bankrupt eventually.

[gardenista]

33. Bitter, much? (n/t)

.

[sonias]

31. It's not over by a long shot

Let some of these crowds from the tour get home and let the campaign catch up with the bat. They're off to NY tomorrow. We'll make it, I'm sure of that. Great crowd in S.A., TX tonight maybe 4,000 and there were about 600 at a high priced fund raiser for Dean in Austin, TX this evening as well. The bat is up to $677,378 already.

Go Dean Go!!

Sonia

[CoffeePlease1947]

32. Then he raised less than a million dollars

[ryharrin]

34. And more than $700,000.

Not too bad for four days. I can't wait until the totals for this quarter come out. He is going to absolutely embarass the competition.

[Doctor Pedantic]

36. It's all about the buzz...

The media have built up Dean, and now it's time for them to move to their traditional next step -- tearing him down. There's already a lot of talk about him having "peaked too early." If he does meet the goal, there probably will be little or no press noting the accomplishment. If he doesn't, there will be plenty written about how his support is waning.

Unfortunately, that's just the way the game is played.

[Northwind]

38. When I first got word of the new funding drive

I was skeptical. A million is a lot of money to run up in $50 increments in 4 days. Hell, you'd need 20,000 individual donors! Not saying it is impossible, but I saw the early push on Friday morning, where about 50k an hour was coming in, as unsustainable. And as the weekend wore on, the hourly total seemed to shrink to about 5-10k per hour.

The I get up this morning and BAM! As of 11 Am ET the total is $778,115.12 from 13,140 donors, at an average of $59.22 per donation. This morning has seen an hourly take on average of 25k per. If we maintain that for just 8 more hours, we've got it, and there are still over 12 hours to go.

Suddenly it looks much more attainable.

Go Dean!

[MercutioATC]

37. He's raising about $20k per hour right now...he should make it.

Besides, I know there are thousands of us that'll come up with another contribution before midnight if it's looking close. I can't wait to see the Q3 totals.

[Northwind]

40. Most recent total

As of 1 PM ET:

$834,142.25

14,055 donors

That's $56,000 in two hours.

GO DEAN!

[Freddie Stubbs]

41. It will mean that he still raised more than any of the other candidates

in that time period.

[Demobrat]

42. 526.31 to go at 4pm.

He'll make it. If he doesn't I'll make up the difference myself.

[MercutioATC]

43. Unless my math is off, it's $99,526.31 to go...

But you're right, he'll make it.

[Demobrat]

44. Oops. That will be a big check.

Everybody contribute now!!!

[Skywalker]

45. Almost there!

At 6:30:

$56,700 to get to 1 million!


Mark

[clar]

46. It'll go over

I wouldn't be at all surprised if it ended up being 1.3 million. On Vermont Public Radio, around 4:30 this afternoon, they announced that Dean had met his goal of raising a million. Now maybe the reporter (a very well respected guy) meant something other than what he said, or someone at HQ let something slip.

[Doctor Pedantic]

47. I Hate To Be A Cynic

Well, actually, not...

But I have a feeling the numbers on the web site are being understated for dramatic tension and to maximize the number of last-minute donors. The pace is certainly slowing, and it's getting later and later on the East Coast, so he could fall just short of the goal at this rate....but I'll bet there's enough in "reserve" that he won't.

[DianeK]

48. i am with you...

what we see on the web is only web contributions 'i think'...not sure...but that is what i think...tomorrow they will cumulate it...i could be wrong..but that is what i think i saw last time...so i think we can be assured that he is well over a million now..but oh, how i love that bat...i have gotten the home mailing to sign up for monthly contribution..i have decided not to do that..the bat is what i give to..my 78 year old mother feels the same way...the bat i what we want to see

[Demobrat]

50. I did the same thing.

I almost responded to the letter, then decided to save it for when the bat was up. Much more fun, and gets the campaign on the news.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

49. $967k reported at 8 pm EST

Even if he only raises $15k an hour for the next 4 hours, which is a low estimate, esp. considering that people wait til the end to donate, the total will be over $1 Million.

Not a problem.

I love the bat!

[Demobrat]

51. 1,003,620 at 9:58.

So the whole thread is moot.

[sfecap]

52. Nothing. He did it....