A Case Study of “Obama for America”
by Patrick Ruffini :: January 15th, 2007 12:05 pmContinuing the online fundraising discussion (raging here), let’s take a closer look at Obama for America, a PAC that is urging Barack Obama to run and driving through ActBlue’s presidential draft funds (maligned here).
How are they doing on that marquee feature? They’ve raised $1,515.08 from a total of 31 donors for an average contribution of $48.87.
That’s not very impressive for a site with a decent-sized Blogad buy behind it, one which stirred some buzz with rumors that this was actually the work of operatives associated with Senator Obama. (That’s since been cleared up.) The average contribution is also low. John Edwards’ presidential account has an average contribution of $146.95. It goes to my point that people want to give to contribute to their candidate directly, and when they do give to a draft fund, they commit a lot less.
Contrast this with other grassroots efforts for Obama. RunObama.com has collected 17,129 petition signatures urging Obama to run. Draft Obama also has a petition going. Students for Barack Obama on Facebook has 31,574 members.
I can guarantee you that 50,000 names of ID’d supporters — even if the campaign doesn’t get access to them — will be far more valuable than the seed money generated through ActBlue or the PAC.
Tagged: actblue 
barack obama online fundraising
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I love Condi Rice. From ‘01 till early ‘05, she was my first choice for ‘08. Heck, I think I have a Photoshop doodle somewhere about a Bush-Rice ticket… in 2000. However, I do take her at her word that she won’t run.
The “Draft Condi” supporters truly have done yeoman’s work — it’s just too bad they don’t have a candidate who isn’t keeping the door open a bit more. Draft campaigns have shown they can be good at collecting names and pledges, but not as good at collecting money.
The internet blasted open the doors to grassroot groups to promote their favored 2008 candidate plus raise money.
Yes, the people who sign on are as valuable as their money, and a key case would be all the websites and blogs dedicated to promoting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a contender for the 2008 race.
Our site is www.thinkcondi.net. Any google search will show that thousands of people have organized in the past 2 years with a common vision of Condoleezza Rice in the next White House. She was the CONDIMANIA back in 2005 which caused major buzz based on national polls showing strong support for her to run. In fact, she was at 20%, equal to Rudy Guiliani and John McCain; a major accomplishment for any woman and/or African American.
One key reason to have grassroots support is that volunteers CARE about the 2008 and Thinkcondi.net is here to defend our Secretary of State from nasty attacks by politicans or from those who support a Democrat for president. The debate is on, and it is worth noting that Laura Ingraham, Neil Boortz, Rush Limbaugh and the Independent Women’s Foundation have helped in defending our Secretary of State from the arrows shot by Senator Boxer during the Foreign Relations hearing.
Tony Snow is also correct to question whether the Democrats/liberals were smart to challenge Condi Rice about not having a child or husband to sacrifice in the War Against Terrorist Taking Over our World. Career woman like Andrea Mitchell without a children can stand up for women being successful in the media world and Elizabeth Dole can stand up for success of women without children in the political world.
Let’s keep the eye on the ball of defending our nation from attacks by murderers, and leave the catfights to the 4-legged felines.