Mix of Donors Adds to Dean Coffers

[pruner]

By GLEN JUSTICE
Published: October 2, 2003

BURLINGTON, Vt., Oct. 1 — Howard Dean turned heads this week when he raised more money, almost $15 million, than his rivals for the second consecutive quarter. His performance can be attributed to a carefully planned strategy to maximize both small donors and traditional larger contributors.

The campaign is adept at turning small donors, some of whom gave as little as $10 each, into fund-raisers who solicit similar amounts from family, friends and neighbors. It also conducted a more traditional effort to draw in bigger fund-raisers who generally do business in six figures.

Those two efforts combined brought Dr. Dean about $14.8 million since July, and the cash is still being counted.

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Many of the campaign's efforts are focused on providing tools, such as software that helps plan a fund-raiser, or individual Web pages that help track contributions. Perhaps the most important is the Web log, or "blog," which allows supporters to communicate instantly with the campaign staff and each other. It offers a steady stream of information from the campaign and a nonstop chain of feedback from supporters.

Together with "the bat," a red baseball player graphic on the Web site that provides updated fund-raising numbers, it forms the heart of a system that takes supporters as close to Dr. Dean's organization as an outsider can get.

"It makes it fun," said Ms. Gray, who has been in touch with supporters from Hawaii to Alaska. "It really does feel like a community."

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http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/02/politics/campaigns/02DONA.html?ex=1065672000&en=b0e6305e98b53558&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE>;

[Evanstondem]

1. Good news for the Dean campaign

I was one of the contributors.

[sonias]

2. Exactly, this is why Dean is ahead in raising money

He is connecting with millions of untapped donors and voters. I had never before contributed to a presidential candidate before. I have always voted, but this time I want a voice. Like Ms. Gray said says in the article:
"My $2,000 counts as much as George Soros's $2,000 or Ken Lay's $2,000,"

I'm nowhere near the $2,000 limit but I honestly believe that by election date I'll be close.

Sonia

[Rose Siding]

3. Thank you Glen Justice!

Good print. He captured one element of the campaign very well. I went to my first meet up tonight. There are so many people willing to do what it takes. I hope this is politics of the future.