Houston, We Have Some Cash

The Federal Election Commission has updated its numbers through the end of June.  And it breaks the way one would expect.  Both candidates numbers are up big.  And Houston is a big player in that (more on that below).

Click here to see details and an interactive map for Obama.  You can also look at a breakout of his fundraising to date below.  Note the vast majority of his fundraising continues to filter in to his coffers in checks $200 or less.  The other number than stands out to me is "Cash On Hand".  It's a staggering 71 million dollars.

Obama Donations Through 6/30/08

Contributions Individual $336,731,296 PAC $1,570 Party $0 Candidate $0 Transfers-In $1,400,000 Disbursements $267,529,180 Cash On Hand $71,670,324

Size of Donations

$200 and Under $166,951,890 $200.01 - $499 $33,177,189 $500 - $999 $28,080,747 $1000 - $1999 $41,429,339 $2000 and Over $73,830,181

And here is a link to the map and numbers for McCain.  What stands out below is that he's spent far less than half what Obama has on "Disbursements".  And yet he has a small (by comparison) 26 million in the bank.  Remember, though, the GOP has a huge treasure chest in relation to the Democrats.  And so that should offset any immediate difference in cash.  After the conventions...it changes.  Obama is free to earn what he can.  McCain is restricted to the $82 million he gets from public funding.

McCain Fundraising Through 6/30/08

Contributions Individual $120,837,764 PAC $1,161,079 Party $3,950 Candidate $0 Transfers-In $10,537,435 Disbursements $102,242,565 Cash On Hand $26,782,229

Size of Donations

$200 and Under $42,602,994 $200.01 - $499 $6,434,313 $500 - $999 $11,240,612 $1000 - $1999 $20,539,957 $2000 and Over $46,544,150 Both candidates continue to fare well in Texas. Obama has raised roughly $9.75 million here.  McCain has topped $8.33 million. And I'm burying the lead here...but The 770-- zip codes in Houston are the most generous in the state for both candidates.  McCain has pulled in $1,650,521 million.  Obama's received a little more than $2 million. What's even more amazing about those numbers is that the 770 zip codes have given more to all presidential candidates ($9,315,056) than the states of Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, West Virginia, Delaware, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee Alaska, and Hawaii each have given to ALL presidential candidates this election year. That means that more than half the states in the country (30) have given less to the process than just a handful of zip codes in Houston have doled out.  Wow! Given that, you'd think we'd see even more of McCain and Obama than we already do. Thanks for reading.  TA

Comments

[ipotter]

Clay, it's time for Obama and his supporters to be honest. One of those "unemployed" who contribute frequently in small amounts, and list address as overseas even though stateside, is employed by CBS. All it takes is a glance to see something is wrong here.

[Gwen S.]

Clay, Republican Rule????? HELLO, The Dems have control of congress!!!!!! The Republican president you are talking about, essentially has his hands tied. Start placing the blame where it belongs, CONGRESS and your precious Democratic leadership. And, voting Dem up and down the ballot will only make it worse for you.

[Clay Potts]

The data simply verify McCain is supported by the wealthy who can afford to give larger donations. Barack Obama receives more of his contributions from the common man who is struggling to make ends meet. The fact that many unemployed support Obama speaks volumes about the destruction of the American economy under Republican rule. Even those without a job feel compelled to spend money to stop the failed policies of the Republican administration. It is time to replace the corrupt Republicans with honest Americans. The only way to do that is by voting Democratic up and down the ballot.

[ipotter]

Thank you. This is very informative. I looked just briefly at the enormous amount of information in the links and see multiple contributions for Obama, made on the same day, by the same "unemployed" person in zip code 770. Wonder how often this occurs overall? Also many contributions for Obama from people who work for big oil. What I find truly facinating is the foreign donations... unemployed, employed by large drug companies, and of course government officials. Some are very curious indeed with multiple contributions on the same day. No wonder Obama is campaigning overseas since it is most certainly a good source of money for him. Sure hope someone is going through this thoroughly. Looked briefly at McCain and don't see the same trends. They could be there, but if so are not as glaringly obvious.

[Gwen S.]

Thanks for the links Tom. It is interesting to compare side by side the numbers. I am amazed at the numbers from Houston, WOW! Think of what all this money could do for the needy. McCain is lagging to be sure, but as you said the RNC will be able to help out tremendously. My only fear is that the RNC is forced to help out congressional candidates defend their seats and are able to give less to Mac. We may not be able to buy as much airtime, and Obama is forcing Mac to defend territory that traditionally he wouldn't, but he does have a small but strong group of supporters that are willing to go down swinging for the man. Although I am reluctant to say it, the meeting with Rick Warren and both candidates (Aug 16) may help with the right base and that could bring in donations. No matter how many areas of concern the Right has with McCain, he is far more in tune with their core beliefs than Obama. Positive comments from Dobson and Warren would definitely open some pockets.