McCain's Elite Fundraisers Trump Obama's

But it paves way for new standard in political fundraising system

(NEWSER) - The huge success of Barack Obama’s Internet fundraising campaign has sparked concerns about the regulation of campaign finance. Some worry that the faceless system allows for easy abuse, particularly in light of donations from anonymous or clearly fake names such as "Osama bin Laden," the Washington Post reports. Dangerous or not, though, Obama’s fundraising has likely become a model for future campaigns. More»

State's newfound battleground status sparks funding fervor

(NEWSER) - With their home state up for grabs for the first time in decades, Virginians—particularly Democrats from the northern part of the state—are pouring money into the presidential race, the Washington Post reports. Thus far, locals have given a record $25.3 million to various candidates throughout the election cycle; that's twice as much as they anted up in 2004. More»

New type of fundraising is quickly becoming lucrative cash stream

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama and John McCain have racked up nearly 100 “bundler” donors between them who have gathered at least $500,000 each from friends and co-workers to support their chosen candidates, the Wall Street Journal reports. The candidates’ spending suggests the fundraisers are breaking bundling records set during the campaigns of President Bush, the first candidate to reap big benefits from the system. More»

(NEWSER) - The $35 million Hillary Clinton has on hand for her primary campaign edges out the $32 million in Barack Obama’s coffers, according to financial reports acquired by the AP. But both have almost three times the money of any other campaign—Rudy Giuliani leads Republicans with just $11.6 million, less than third-place Democrat John Edwards. More»

About 80% of those who gave $500k or more now in administration

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s White House is packed with his top campaign fundraisers, which probably shouldn’t be too surprising—because mega-bundler Donald Gips was in charge of hiring them, according to a new investigation from iWatch News . Gips, the former head of Level 3 Communications, bundled $500,000 for Obama. He’s currently ambassador to South Africa, and Level 3, which he still owns stock in, got $13.8 million in stimulus money. More»