Dean tries to raise $40 mill in 3rd qtr

[opstachuck]

from MSNBC campaign embeds... (sorry if its a dupe)

"It is the most outlandish challenge of this campaign season. A threshold, which if achieved, would completely alter the race for the presidency, likely result in the first dropouts of this campaign and rewrite political history. Yet, it also is a mark that the Dean campaign seriously (99.9%) doubts it can reach, calling it more of a challenge and a call to action than a realistic or achievable ambition. The challenge - raise $40 million in the third quarter. Can the Dean campaign get anywhere close, and if so, how close? He is behind the target. In an open letter (posted on the campaign’s Web site), Campaign Manager Joe Trippi notes that if all 400,000 of the Dean for America Volunteers were to send $100 dollars to the campaign, Dean for America would raise $40 million dollars this quarter..."

http://www.msnbc.com/news/958689.asp#September17

[RogueTrooper]

1. It's certainly ambitious

I suppose the question is: How much have we raised already?

[RevolutionStartsNow]

5. Another great move by Trippi, by the way

It's an outrageous statement, so all of a sudden he's got MSNBC and likely others talking about the need to donate to the Dean campaign. Bet they pick up a bunch of donations just because of the exposure.

Of course I can't swear that Trippi planned it that way, he may have just been blogging, but in that case he's just blessed.

[whirlygigspin]

2. What a great idea!

I'd gladly send in $100 bucks to help
wipe out the insiders off the map.

Sorry Hillary!

[LoZoccolo]

3. Let's do it anyways.

That would be funny as fuck. $100? To freak out everyone? Let's do it.

[valniel]

35. Amazing, that is more than $10,000 from his 100+ supporters on DU!

Dean's magic escapes me!

[RevolutionStartsNow]

4. Just in case one of the 400,000 can't afford it...

I'm donating $200!

It's already in my budget, I'm waiting for the bat to go up. Have donated a couple of times this week, too, just because.

[Egnever]

36. Just one thing to say

:yourock:

Times are not the most flush here. There is no way in hell I will ever reach my cap. I will give what I can afford here and there from now till 2004. Just went to a house party last week and donated 50$ and it hurt to do it. But if that bat goes up I will try for more. Funny that in tough times I find myself not wishing for more money for myself but to give to a candidate for president.

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

6. Wow

I thought maybe they were shooting for $13M or a bit more. I figured that they had already raised $10M since they said they'd definitely make that much at the end of the quarter. But to even think about $40M makes me think they have already raised much more than they had expected. This could be big...They haven't missed a goal yet, and if they did raise even close to $40M that would put amazing pressure on the other candidates to rethink their campaigns.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. Ahem.

This is not a $40M challenge. It is Trippi noting that if all 400,000 give a $100 we could get $40M.

A muscle that has yet to be flexed.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

8. Agreed

$40M is much too big of a stretch, but I think it's serving its purpose and getting in the news. Which may bring a few extra contributions.
No one thinks we will really raise $40M.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. Scared the hell out of me when I first saw it.

However, I do think that this quarter is going to be in the $20M neighborhood. If it's less than $15M, I'll be shocked. If the campaign is floating $40M they must be looking at this quarter's receipts and thinking "We've got an outside shot at 40." We'll see.

[RogueTrooper]

10. It is tempting 'though RiF

:evilgrin:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. Hey!

What's the situation with Blair after the Hutton report? It seemed like it nailed him but gave him a pass, too. What's the word over there?

[RogueTrooper]

12. Well, now you ask

It depends on what happens at Labour Party Conference but I think Blair has managed to escape. The Hutton enquiry has such narrow terms of reference that there is a little it can say about the conduct of the Prime Minister before and during the War in Iraq. There is, however, a body of thought that thinks the reason the government seized on the death of Dr. Kelly and launched to the Hutton Inquiry was to protect it from a full blown enquiry. A full inquiry would have been quite nasty for the government. It certainly worked and Blair seemes to have got away scot-free. H

Just recently he has picked a fight with certain vocal interest groups on the left. After pissing them off be going to war with George Bush you might think he would be giving them what they want? Not so. All these interest groups are now more involved with fighting Blair over matters of self interest rather than principle. I have a sneeking suspicion that, if Blair is lucky, the war will not figure much at conference.

Tony Blair is a gifted politician, and a lucky one at that. He is in the same class as his friend Bill Clinton. Had the Republicans not stolen a Presidential election and set the world on a course of disastrous war he would most probably be looked on far more kindly on DU that he is now.

Just another reason to hate George W. Bush.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. Hmmm.

Did the shadow of Chimp not being pushed on this issue cross the pond and effect the rabidness of the pursuit of Blair?

[Malikshah]

16. Thanks Rummy

Geez--MSGOP and others are stretching it against a candidate they seriously detest.

It was a hypothetical.. other hypotheticals raised in earlier discussions involved numbers approaching 100 to 200 million--they were seen for what they were-- hyptothetical.

Now--they're being used as a potential weapon...

Pull up the bootstraps, lock and load and get ready for ugliness never seen before folks.

Come look for me when the smoke clears--I'll be the one with the red carnation and the tear-stained cheeks...

[DoveTurnedHawk]

14. How Many Individual Donors Does Dean Have?

It wouldn't surprise me if he raises $20MM this quarter.

DTH

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

17. Around a 115,000.

I divided last quarter's numbers by the average dollar amount given.

:shrug:

I agree with the $20M figure.

[w4rma]

19. Meetups and Signups have slightly more than doubled since Q2

Final 2nd Quarter People-Powered Howard Report: $7.6 Million Raised
Howard Dean today announced that 73,226 Americans joined together to raise over $7.6 million for the Dean for America campaign in the second filing quarter which ended on June 30. A total of 83,041 individuals have contributed to the campaign overall.

"This campaign is about bringing people back into a political process that for too long has been dominated by Washington insiders out of touch with real Americans,” said Dean. “Behind each of these contributions are the stories of Americans who want to take their country back, and they are making a huge difference."

Fundraising Facts:

Of the 83,041 donors overall, only 891 have maxed out, enabling over 82,000 of them to continue to contribute funds to the campaign in the future.
The average donation to the campaign was $88.11, demonstrating that Americans are participating directly in their democracy, giving what they can to reclaim their government.
Over 62,000 donors gave for the first time to Dean for America this quarter, demonstrating the momentum and growth of the campaign.
…
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000691.html

Dean Raises $7.5 Million in Second Quarter (rough report)
In the second quarter ending yesterday, 59,000 Americans donated an average of $112 to help boost Governor Howard Dean to the top of the second quarter fundraisers with a total of $7.5 million raised.

Unlike the small, exclusive multi-million dollar fundraisers held in major cities by President Bush over the last week, the Dean campaign saw its numbers surge based on small donations over the Internet—with nearly $3 million raised online in the last week alone. In the second quarter, 45,030 people donated online a total of 51,474 times. The average donation online was $74.14.

“When we said last week during the governor’s announcement that ‘You have the power,’ we had no idea just how much power our supporters had,” said Campaign Manager Joe Trippi. “They are people participating directly in their democracy, and doing whatever they can to help us take our country back—giving $20, $30, or $50. This is People-Powered Howard.”

Second quarter fundraising by the numbers:

Total raised in second quarter: $7,500,000 Total donors (2003 to date): 70,000
Average contribution: $112

First time donors in second quarter: 48,000

Levels of Internet Giving:
Less than $50: 18,422
$50 -- 99: 11,579
$100 -- $249: 11,436
$250 -- $499: 2,379
$500 -- $1,000: 368
$1,000 and up: 129
…
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000584.html

Now:
September 17, 2003 - 113,000 on Meetup
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/001494.html

September 17, 2003 - 404,501 Americans for Dean
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/001489.html

Then (Just before Q2 ended)
July 01, 2003 - 50,000 Signed Up for Meetup
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000579.html

July 17, 2003 - Over 200,000 People Signed up for Dean
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000709.html

[CoffeePlease1947]

15. Words of the wise

"A fool and their money are soon parted." Wait and see. Stupid to send huge amounts into the Dean Campaign, or any campaign for that matter, until things are more certain about a candidates ability to win. It is silly for any candidate to need to raise $40 million. If a candidate can't get ahead with on a clear message with just $10 million than chances are the candidate is all glitter and no substance.

Mike

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

18. If you wait too long...

The first leg of the race is over.

[w4rma]

21. If everyone listened to you, CoffeePlease1947, on that, then

No candidate would have any money for the primaries.

Note, I'm absolutely, 100%, not a single doubt, positive that Gov. Howard Dean, M.D. *can* win.

[clar]

26. What??!!

Nothing you just wrote makes any sense. First of all, the point is that people aren't sending huge amounts of money. This campaign is built on small donations. Lots of them. Second of all, you can't win the primaries without money. Unfair but true. Third of all, Dean has gotten his message through without spending gobs of money. That's how he got the gobs of money. Fourth, and last. Bush will have two hundred and fify million. We need all the money we can raise.

[DrFunkenstein]

20. I Say Shoot For $200 Million

Then you might be able to counter Rove painting him as an unstable radical from Ben & Jerry world.

Seriously, though, I expect Dean will have a great quarter. Good luck to y'all.

[w4rma]

22. IMHO, w/ $200 million the nominee would sweep Dems back into Congress (nt)

[DrFunkenstein]

23. Lol!

We can dream can't we.

:toast:

[w4rma]

24. Dream the big dreams

:toast:

Note, I don't think we'll be able to pull anything anywhere close to that off. For context, Al Gore raised about ~$45 million (including matching funds) for the primaries while Smirk raised about ~$100 million.

I do think we should try for a Congressional sweep, no matter what, though.

[Nazgul35]

33. and on that note...I have to say...

look at my sig below....

sign up at the ePatriot fund at the DNC...whoever the nominee is will have that $200 million easy....if we all just put a little into the pot...

[dean4america]

25. could happen (seriously)

First off, I think he'll raise between 15-17 million this quarter, which would be awesome in and of itself. however, they could conceivably pull off 30 million, and have an outside chance at 40 (though maybe like a 1% chance).

Trippi's reasoning is that if all 400,000 (404,501 to be exact) of those signed up gave 100 bucks, they would have the 40 million. But that only works if Dean has ZERO to start from, which he doesn't. More likely, they have about 15 in the bank for this quarter already. So, he needs to raise only 25 million in 10 days. That really amounts to... $62.50 per person of the 400,000. Again, THAT is not likely, because not every one of the 400,000 will give at all, let alone 62 dollars. So let's shave that in half again.

200,000 supporters would have to give $125 to make up the additional 25 million. But, again, while 125 bucks isn't 2,000 dollars, it's still alot of money for a lot of people. so let's shave off another 50,000 people. That brings us to 150,000, who'd have to give $166 to again reach that magical 25 million. But, remember, this is to get a total of 40 million for the quarter, which is still a dream away. But not impossible. You can figure on around 100,000-150,000 unique contributors to the campaign by this point. People who maybe have given 10 bucks here and 25 bucks here. If the bat goes up and dares the Dean community to go for the gold, so to speak, and get to 30 million (since 40 is too far of a long shot), each one of these small time contributors would be asked to committ... TADA... 100 dollars, because 150,000 people who have GIVEN ALREADY x 100 dollars = 15 million, plus the 15 they have in the bank. Moreover, in actuality, they only need it to average out to 100/per person, because some people (like the person above) will give 200, someone won't give any, someone may give 50, someone may give 150, and so on.

They can make the case that THIS quarter is the most important in terms of fundraising, and that blowing the top off the bat is the single most important event in the campaign's history. who wants to bet against that?

[LightTheMatch]

27. OK, I gave again.

Something about the establishment seemingly telling me which candidate I should support is bugging me... so I just gave more, another $100. I hope it helps.

[Rose Siding]

34. Wow

Thanks. We'll be sending some more next week. Maybe we can do this, huh? -not the 40 mil, necessarily- but skew the power brokers- throw them off. It's great to see that so many can unite toward that goal.

[CMT]

28. oh hell, I worked some overtime this week

my $100 check is in the mail.

Now I don't know if he will reach $40 million--I doubt it, but this is what the Dean campaign does so well, it makes its supporters really feel part of the process. They are already well over the Clinton record of '95 (my gut tells me)and though they are downplaying it...maybe, just maybe they can do it. Even if they fail and raise "only" $30 million that would shake the race up plenty.

[LoZoccolo]

29. Let's still do it.

We only wanted to raise like $500,000 last quarter, right?

Forty million is a huge amount of money, and it would be so funny if everyone laughed at that and it came true.

After all, Bush* can raise quite a bit. But there are more of us.

Be serious about this and it could happen.

[LoZoccolo]

32. Also...

...it should motivate you to get people to join the campaign by the quarter-end too.

[LuminousX]

30. Daaaang!

Okay, see that is one of the things that brings me to the Dean camp. They are willing to take risks, set big goals, and not take things that seriously. Can you imagine any of the other candidates openly stating to the public they have such an outlandish goal?

Of course not. But this is noteworthy, thus will get pundits and other news sources talking about it, getting Dean more airtime. Meanwhile Kerry supporters whine Kerry isn't getting any attention from the press. Well, like it or not, the press likes a spectacle. Dean is giving it to them.

He promises to either be a brilliant comet lighting up the sky, or a disaster as he crashes and burns. The media loves both stories. The other candidates don't offer such levels of drama in their campaigns. What story are they trying to tell?

Dean is telling the story of an outsider, battling against the walls of D.C. trying to unseat an unsavory Prince. Whether it is true or not doesn't matter. It is a compelling narrative that the press wants to cover. It is like a well written mystery. Will he succeed or not? Will his mistatements sink him or not? Meanwhile, his supporters are caught up in the drama as well, only they get to help write it, which makes it interactive and that much more 'sticky.'

No matter what happens, we'll be hearing about Howard Dean well after this election.

[CMT]

31. this is my feeling too

Dean has gotten where he has by taking chances. So far, they have paid off.