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With hours to go before the end of the March fundraising period, all three presidential candidates are making last-minute pleas with their supporters for contributions. Democratic Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) were all looking to add to their coffers before the end of the month’s fundraising period, which draws to a close at midnight Monday. Obama and Clinton are both coming off record fundraising months. Obama raised $55 million in February after putting together a string of victories following the Super Tuesday primaries, which put him in the lead in the delegate count. Clinton also enjoyed a strong month, posting a record for her campaign of $35 million. The former first lady was able to pick up big wins in early March in the Ohio and Texas primaries, but reports surfaced Monday that the New York senator is experiencing some financial troubles. Clinton will need another strong month as there are an increasing number of calls saying she should quit the race. The campaign got off to a good start for the month, bringing in $6 million online in its first six days following Clinton’s wins in Texas and Ohio on March 4, and like her rivals, Clinton is holding an Internet contest with random fundraisers joining her in New York City for a concert with Elton John. “This is our last chance to show our strength in the midst of the onslaught from our opponent who wants this race to end before millions of Americans have their say,” Clinton said in a fundraising e-mail. Obama’s fundraising contest will see the winners join him for dinner. The Illinois senator said the March filing period will be crucial ahead of the remaining 10 contests on the Democratic schedule. “This will be the final report before the next series of primaries, and the results will be sized up and interpreted by everyone trying to gauge the strength of our campaign,” Obama said. McCain has lagged greatly behind his Democratic rivals, but March was the first month in which he has enjoyed presumptive-nominee status. The New York Times reported that the Arizona senator has been slow to amass the support of President Bush’s biggest fundraisers. In a ploy to add to his campaign bank account, the senator is holding an online contest, offering donors a chance to join him on his Straight Talk Express. “The liberals and the media will use the amount we report as a sign of the strength of our campaign,” Rick Davis, McCain’s campaign manager, said in a fundraising e-mail. |
