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Obama tops Democratic fundraising Obama tops Democratic fundraising
(about 2 hours later)
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton is facing a continuing threat from Barack Obama, reports filed to US electoral officials suggest.Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton is facing a continuing threat from Barack Obama, reports filed to US electoral officials suggest.
Mr Obama, the black senator from Illinois, raised more than $30m in the second quarter of 2007, according to the official returns filed last night. Mr Obama, the senator from Illinois, raised more than $30m in the second quarter of 2007, according to the official returns filed last night.
They show that Mrs Clinton, the senator from New York, raised just under $30m.They show that Mrs Clinton, the senator from New York, raised just under $30m.
This is more than the entire Democratic field of hopefuls managed at the same time in the run-up to the 2004 poll.This is more than the entire Democratic field of hopefuls managed at the same time in the run-up to the 2004 poll.
Grassroots powerGrassroots power
The Democrats in other words are on fire, with their supporters willing and able to back these two big-name candidates with enough cash for sophisticated and expensive campaigns.The Democrats in other words are on fire, with their supporters willing and able to back these two big-name candidates with enough cash for sophisticated and expensive campaigns.
APRIL-JUNE 2007 FUNDRAISING Barak Obama - $33mHillary Clinton - $27.1mSource: reports filed to the US Federal Election Commission APRIL-JUNE 2007 FUNDRAISING Barack Obama - $33mHillary Clinton - $27.1mSource: reports filed to the US Federal Election Commission
Much more money is flowing into the Democratic race than the Republican.Much more money is flowing into the Democratic race than the Republican.
Sen Obama's take, easily the biggest ever for a Democrat at this stage of the electoral cycle, suggests that he will be capable of matching Sen Clinton financially all the way into next year.Sen Obama's take, easily the biggest ever for a Democrat at this stage of the electoral cycle, suggests that he will be capable of matching Sen Clinton financially all the way into next year.
The question is whether he can do it politically.The question is whether he can do it politically.
The Obama camp are suggesting that his is a powerful grassroots campaign - 250,000 individual donors.The Obama camp are suggesting that his is a powerful grassroots campaign - 250,000 individual donors.
But Sen Clinton is still ahead in the polls and her financial position is perfectly secure.But Sen Clinton is still ahead in the polls and her financial position is perfectly secure.