A Mitt Romney campaign announcement declaring its latest fundraising figures raised a few eyebrows on our team -- not because of the amount of money that was raised, but rather because of how the campaign characterized its contributors. The press release highlighted that "84% Of All Donations Received Through The End Of March Were $250 Or Less," which seems to suggest a groundswell of grassroots support for the former governor. While the percentage the campaign cites is correct, it doesn't illustrate the role small donors play in the campaign's overall fundraising. A closer look at the numbers reveals that in fact, a majority of Romney's money has come from people who donated the maximum amount of $2,500 -- 64 percent through March, according to the Campaign Finance Institute (CFI).
What the "84 percent" figure really means is that roughly 8 out of 10 checks received by the Romney campaign were $250 or less, not that 84% of the campaign's total fundraising came from checks of that size. The press release says these donations have totaled $11.6, or 13 percent of the nearly $87 million the campaign has raised so far. But even that doesn't tell the whole story, since it can include donors who have cumulatively given more than $250 in smaller increments -- for instance, 2,500 checks in the amount of $1. The CFI weeds out these repeat contributors once they cross certain donation thresholds. We had the CFI crunch the numbers for $250 and they found just 11 percent of Romney's cash has come from contributions of $250 or less. When you compare this to his rival, the CFI found 49 percent of the president's fundraising has come from donors who gave $250 or less.
It's important to note that $250 is a somewhat arbitrary figure. Reports typically refer to "small donors" as those who have given $200 or less, as those contributions are filed as "unitemized" with the FEC. The Romney campaign's April FEC file shows his campaign pulled in $9.1 million from small donations through March 31, which is 10.5 percent of its total fundraising (according to the CFI, that falls to just under 9 percent if you exclude repeat donors who have cumulatively have given more than $200). On the other hand, Obama for America's latest filing shows $85 million, or 57.9% of his total haul so far, has come from small donor contributions (44 percent by the CFI calculation).
Team Romney appears eager to tout its small donor support, but looking inside their books shows his campaign is overwhelmingly funded by large checks. The campaign is certainly looking to appeal to more small donors. Currently $5 buys you a chance to "Grab a Bite with Ann," and in March a $3 donation gave you a chance to watch a baseball game with the Romney family.
Added pressure for Team Romney is that nearly two-thirds of his money is from supporters who have maxed out their contributions. Not only does the president hold a tremendous advantage in tapping small donors, but just 16 percent of his cash has come from those who have given the full $2,500.
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I am sure the righties are going to say, MSNBC is a propaganda machine for liberals, like faux news is not propaganda.
Either way, what really matters is that Obama has more supporters and more supporters means more votes. And we will remember the Greedy Obstructionist Party in November and give Obama four more years. Of course, the GOP will continue their obstruction if given the chance. So the Dems need to take back congress too! REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER!
If Canadians could donate to reelect Obama we would.. Good luck in November!!
Obama 2012
Aw, thanks 2 u from an American Obama supporter.
Mitt Romney is incapable of connecting with the working class voters and he certainly cannot connect to the Latinos. Mark Rubio is cuban not Hispanic or Mexican there is a difference.
It appears that many Americans don't vote with their pocketbooks or brains. Try looking at the candidate who will protect your child's public education, college loans, and your Social Security/Medicare, and won't waste your money by starting new wars or trying to revive a Cold War. Think about it.
The Kochs are busy for sure.
If you donate 5 million dollars and if you donate 5 dollars you each have ONE VOTE.
Many small donors is far better than a few huge ones.
We wouldn't be so concerned about the horrid SCOTUS ruling in Citizens United vs FEC (in agreement with Justice Stevens OF the SCOTUS!) , if our electorate was better informed. All the money can buy is influence and the only people influenced are those who have not come to informed conclusions about who "best represents me".
However, voice over artists and ad production companies, etc. can certainly claim job gains in the cashed up election season... so some good comes from draining the bank accounts of influence peddlers (hope THEY go broke!!! :)
An effective leader needs to be able to connect authentically with his or her people--political constituents, company stakeholders, colleagues in a university, etc. Doing so demonstrates that the leader truly understands and empathizes with the lives and challenges of these folks. It's one thing to say that the leader "knows" what stakeholders experience and struggle with. It's a vastly different thing to have walked in the constituents' shoes, to have had similar life experiences, to regularly interact with and actively listen to the needs and aspirations of these stakeholders: in other words, to have an open heart that truly knows. An authentic leader doesn't need to stretch himself or herself to force a "bond" with the people. The bond occurs naturally because the leader and the people are of a kindred spirit.
David Gregory ... we don't know whether Mitt Romney would have made the Bin laden call or not (likely not, as top advisors were saying don't go), but we do know Mitt Romney would have allowed the auto industry to fail ... which is to the full context of VP Biden's remarks. Please use full context, and not just what you feel makes one side and the other look somewhat equal.
Mark Rubio did not write that speech. If you watch the whole thing, he embarrassingly lost the last page of his speech and did not know how to finish it. Pitiful.
Someone has to have a name to call this exquisite Rubio moment! "Oops!" has already been taken.
If Canadians could donate to the Obama campaign we would... Please know Canadians want and need for Obama to get reelected.
Romney is supporting the far right tea party republicans ideals and that is scary !!
PLEASE get out the vote for Obama!!
Mr. Romney's grassroots supporters can be counted on one hand. There's this billionaire, that billionaire and then over there is another.
Sam has it right. The Repubs have been trying to get Obama out of office since hour one and not willing to cooperate on any legislation (even their own previously held positions), thus trying to make it appear as if Obama and "big government" is not the answer. As Al Franken once said (paraphrasing) ... "Republicans like to say government is the problem ... then they get into office ... and prove it." Case in point, of course, is after the Repubs took control of the House. Very little (in the way of creating jobs ... but certainly taking rights away from women) has been able to be accomplished since then.
romney does not have a base who will knock on doors , calls & give their money to. that is the difference. the reason that the gop was obstructionist from day one more less after he was sworn they were really afraid that the prsident man could really make a difference. the gop is & was the problem. everyday they create a scandal, or reince preibus is complaining about something when they are doing worst
I don't think that repubs know what progress is.
They only know how to look at what has been
proposed and find ways to shoot it down. This
is not a new attitude it's been their playbook
for decades. Now it's absolute. ChuckV
I'm Canadian and would never vote for Obama, and most of us wouldn't. It's just like having a neighbor that lives next to you that goes bankrupt. Obama is taking America there now and we don't want that type of neighbor. Romney is a much better choice than the spend thrift you have now.
stay in Canada we don't u here since u got health ins
It is a shame that the republicans have not put the American people before greed or their obsession about winning the White House back
there are lies, damned lies, and statistics!
Ms. Wagner- I always try to catch your program. You are obviously smart; you book many interesting guests and I confess my admiration for your dry sense of humor.