Merkley outfundraises Smith in Q2; online money soars
The Jeff Merkley and Gordon Smith campaigns released their quarterly fundraising totals today.
The Merkley campaign raised $1.42 million for the quarter, while the Smith campaign raised $1.35 million, according to the O's Jeff Mapes.
Of that $1.42 million, the Merkley campaign reported that over $420,000 of it was donated online. Noted Mapes:
[The Merkley campaign said] it raised $420,000 over the internet, which has become an increasingly important source of money for politicians (it also tends to be a cleaner source of money, coming in small amounts from from a broad variety of donors).
In addition, according to the Merkley campaign, their fundraising shows the strength of the grassroots:
* Oregonians from 164 different towns across the state have contributed to Merkley.
* Oregonians from 34 of 36 counties have contributed.
* In all, 3,400 Oregonians have contributed to the campaign.
* More than 70 percent of contributions to Merkley's campaign over the last three months were under $100.
* In addition to thousands of Oregonians, Democrats from all 50 states have contributed to defeat Smith.
Discuss.
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July 14, 2008
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Jul 14, '08
A few reasons not to get complacent: Merkley likely received a surge of dollars once he became the nominee, and while still the nominee this quarter, that surge could abate. Also, Smith has about $4M more COH. We also have no idea how the race is polling since all the new ads have come out. Which is to say, keep giving and working hard, there's a long way to go. Still, cheers to a good news day.
Jul 14, '08
I bet Sen. Smith has recived donations from all 36 counties.
7:58 p.m.
Jul 14, '08
Wow, that's amazing. Congrats!
Jul 14, '08
I hear that Merkley will be attending Netroots Nation. it seems to me like a good opportunity for him to meet the Oregonians in attendance and to plan for the next few months.
bloggers could actually help him get his message out.
Is anyone going? Does anyone (maybe the editors here at blueOregon or other Oregon blogs) think it's a good idea for the Oregonians who are planning to attend to actually meetup and plan our strategy for the next few months?
If so, wouldn't it be a good idea to propose meeting in Austin before we arrive? Just a suggestion...
9:50 p.m.
Jul 14, '08
I hope one of these days to go to Netroots Nation, but I doubt I'll be going this year - all my extra funds are going into my campaign for city council right now.
Jul 14, '08
Jeff, you are very kind. Thank you so much for your congrats! Congrats that your candidate raised $7 thousand dollars more than Smith, and from almost all the counties!
Mike, just let me know where you want to meet. I would be happy to discuss strategy with you guys ;-)
10:14 p.m.
Jul 14, '08
There may be others, but I know that I'm going, Carla Axtman (the BlueOregon Fellow) is going, and contributor Jon Perr is going.
In addition, Jeff Merkley will be there.
So, yes, we should all get together - though, frankly, we should be spending the bulk of our time talking to non-Oregonians about why they should care about our races (not traveling all the way to Texas to talk to other Oregonians.)
11:56 p.m.
Jul 14, '08
I'd imagine that if I went, I'd fly into Houston (with Abby), drop the kiddo off at my parents' house, get a rental, and drive to Austin where I'd stay for a few days while Abby played with my parents. Then I'd go spend some time with them before heading back to Oregon.
It's hard to make a trip to the home state without a visit to the parents - especially when you haven't visited since early '04. ; )
12:32 a.m.
Jul 15, '08
AJ 526, it doesn't affect your point that much, but the difference is $70,000, not $7000.
8:32 a.m.
Jul 15, '08
he only outraises Smith if you count the 200k+ donated by chuck schumer in the primary, right?
9:07 a.m.
Jul 15, '08
TJ, no, that's not correct.
The money that was spent by the DSCC on behalf of Jeff Merkley is just that - money spent on behalf of... it is not a donation to the campaign. (That goes for both the coordinated expenditures and the issue ads.)
Full disclosure: My firm built Jeff Merkley's website, but I speak only for myself.
Jul 15, '08
But am I correct to assume Kari that the $250k loan Jeff gave to himself is included in that total, in which case he didn't actually outraise Smith? Don't pull the wool over our eyes Kari. We're big kids.
Jul 15, '08
If only it was about who best represented the interests of the the people...sigh.
Jul 15, '08
You are right Chris, my bad.
It did help that the DSCC was paying all his non-TV expenses, and the party aired an illegal ad for him.
11:27 a.m.
Jul 15, '08
The DSCC paying Merkley's bills directly isn't a contribution to the campaign? You sure?
Jul 15, '08
It will be interesting to see the industry breakdown for the campaign contributions. Will we see big money from oil and coal company PACs, polluting industry, and timber company CEO's continuing to fill Smith's coffers as they have in the past? Smith has relied on big corporate money to fuel his campaign, while these numbers show that Merkley has been successfully building a small donor grassroots base more representative of real Oregonians.
And don't worry, if Smith starts running low as he gets more desperate come October, he can always borrow against the mortgage on his $4.2 million mansion on Country Club Drive.
8:34 p.m.
Jul 15, '08
The DSCC paying Merkley's bills directly isn't a contribution to the campaign? You sure?
Yes, I'm sure. (How the FEC defines a contribution is odd to me, too, but that's how it is.)
<h2>Yes, Andy, the loan is counted. Money in is money in. (And I'm quite sure that the Smith folks count any contributions or loans from Smith in their totals too.)</h2>