Small Donors Didn't Drive His Campaign: Study

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 24, 2008 9:12 PM CST

(Newser) – The little guy didn't fill Barack Obama's campaign coffers after all, a new non-partisan study says. True, almost 50% of his donations were $200 or less, but many of those donors gave again. Only about a quarter of them stopped at two C-notes, a figure in the same range as donations to John McCain. About 80% of Obama's money came from people who gave more than $1,000, the New York Times reports.

“The myth is that money from small donors dominated Barack Obama’s finances,” said the executive director of the Campaign Finance Institute, which conducted the study. “The reality of Obama’s fund-raising was impressive, but the reality does not match the myth.”

Barack Obama gives his victory speech to supporters during an election night gathering in Grant Park on November 4, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. (Getty Images)

Barack Obama introduces his economic team during a press conference at the Hilton Hotel November 24, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. (Getty Images)

President-elect Barack Obama smiles during his news conference introducing members of his economic team, Monday, Nov. 24, 2008, in Chicago. (AP Photo)

President-elect Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in Chicago, Monday, Nov. 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Barack Obama gives his victory speech to supporters during an election night gathering in Grant Park on November 4, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. (Getty Images)

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100 Families Gave $100K to Obama

Rockefellers, Spielbergs among Barack's 'elite' donors

Small Print Lets Donors Write Big Checks

Individuals are giving as much as $70K to candidates and parties

Obama Got $40K From Fake People

McCain benefited from fewer fictitious donors, Times discovers

Rising New Money Class Powers Obama

Brooks cites recent shift to 'information age analysts'

Obama Romancing 'Fat-Cat' Donors

And, simultaneously, not-so-rich ones

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • campaign finance • Obama 2008 • political donors • political donations

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

100 Families Gave $100K to Obama

Rockefellers, Spielbergs among Barack's 'elite' donors

Small Print Lets Donors Write Big Checks

Individuals are giving as much as $70K to candidates and parties

Obama Got $40K From Fake People

McCain benefited from fewer fictitious donors, Times discovers

Rising New Money Class Powers Obama

Brooks cites recent shift to 'information age analysts'

Obama Romancing 'Fat-Cat' Donors

And, simultaneously, not-so-rich ones

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Newser By Users

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