Not much is being said of the fund-raising report released by the Bush camp yesterday to the FEC. My friend Shawn sent me the CNN report by Robert Yoon, in which was reported that Bush raised an incredible $49.5 million dollars in the last quarter. The total amount raised is now $84 million dollars. The administration and the RNC would like you to believe that Bush is not focused on his re-election and is not yet actively campaigning, but Yoon reports otherwise--
...[T]he president has taken an active role in fund raising for his campaign. Roughly 83 percent of the $49.5 million raised from July through September and the $84 million raised overall came from fund-raising events that the president or vice president attended, campaign aides said.
In comparison, the six leading candidates for the Democrats have raised approximately $34.5 million; Howard Dean has raised $15 million of that amount.
I don’t have to lecture anyone on the benefits of money. But when one considers that the amount of money is grossly larger for the reigning and more aggressive party, especially considering the positive media attention, commercial airtime, and expensive theatrics that will barrage the more easily-influenced viewer as a result of this money, it should not be hard to realize that this one factor could win Bush a second term.
Even though the fundraising for Democrats will pick up when the presidential candidate is selected, I don’t consider this good news at all...not at all.
Toby’s Political Diary comments on Bush’s fund-raising efforts; it's a most fascinating blog. Toby compares the Rangers and Patriots who financially support Bush to jackals. Read Jackals feasting at the Trough.
