We have literally never seen a political landscape like this:
So far in the 2008 campaign, Democratic candidates for the White House and Congress, along with the Democratic National Committee and other party committees, have raised a total of $388.8 million, compared with $287.3 million for Republicans, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. The figures include reports filed Friday by the House and Senate party committees for fund raising through June 30.
Should that gap persist through the end of next year, it would be the first time in the 30-year history of the FEC that Democrats outraised Republicans overall in federal elections, says FEC spokesman Bob Biersack.
The Dems have always been at a financial disadvantage. It only stands to reason that the party of the people will get fewer contributions than the party of big business. But things are changing, and small contributions are a big part of it.
Democrats have taken the lead by exploiting widespread disapproval of President Bush and the Iraq war to develop a more robust online network of new, small donors, as well as to gain traction with deep-pocketed business contributors…
Moreover, Democrats’ focus on small donors leaves them room to raise more cash over the next year, since many contributors have yet to hit the legal limit of $2,300 per candidate per election, and could potentially keep giving.
I’m afraid of what Bush might do over the remaining 18 months of his presidency. But I’m optimistic about the future. Everywhere I look I see signs of a total collapse of the Republican Party.
