Democrats' Fundraising Pays Off: $181 Million Record Haul for Obama

(Photo: REUTERS/Jason Reed)
U.S. President Barack Obama high-fives a young supporter in the audience at the end of a campaign election campaign rally at Kent State University, Ohio, September 26, 2012.

By Daniel Distant , Christian Post Reporter

October 7, 2012|11:12 am

Democrats' fundraising in September seems to have paid off, as Barack Obama's campaign raked in a record $181 million- that's the most either his or Mitt Romney's campaign has raised in the 2012 election cycle.

Democrats fundraising for President Obama included more than just the staffers from his campaign; Democratic Party affiliates and the Democratic National Convention also helped. The news is good for the incumbent, as his campaign barely surpassed his Republican challenger's with $114 million to Romney's $111 million.

"Last month, we surpassed 10 million donations in 2012 alone. We made history," Jim Messina, Obama's campaign manager, said to supporters in an email while citing the record $181 million fundraising haul. "I don't think I have to tell you how huge that number is."

The campaign managed to break records through the number of first-time donors- 567,044, to be exact- who gave donations that averaged $53. Messina also revealed that Obama, who has thrived off of small donations both in 2008 and 2012, is continuing tradition: 98 percent of contributions to the reelection effort have been $250 and under.

In addition to the latest jobs report, which showed a drop in unemployment from 8.1 to 7.8 percent, the donations are good news for a campaign that had lost momentum following the President's dismal debate performance.

Obama has used the news to re-energize his campaign, saying that America "has come too far to turn back now." Romney, in contrast, said that "it's crystal clear we're in the middle of a jobs crisis."

"My priority is jobs. And from Day one of my presidency, I will lead us out of this crisis," he told supporters in an email.

Mitt Romney and his campaign have yet to release their tally for fundraising in September, but it is likely to be higher than August's, as many voters are just tuning in, and saw a new side of the former governor during last week's debate.

So far, Barack Obama's reelection campaign has fundraised $835 million this election cycle. Although September was a record month for 2012, it was not a record for the incumbent- in September 2008, Obama's team raised $190 million.