New Campaign Finance Data Analysis

The Campaign Finance Institute reports:

Barack Obama's relative success in raising campaign funds from small donors during the 2008 primary season is well known. Not as well known is that Obama raised an even higher percentage from donors of $200 or less during the general election.

According to a new study released today by the Campaign Finance Institute (CFI), about one-third (34 percent) of the $337 million the Obama campaign raised from individuals for the general election came from donors who gave the general election campaign a total of $200 or less. (Almost all presidential campaign contributions come from individuals, with only a scattering from political committees.) The $114 million Obama received from these $200-or-less donors exceeded the $85 million his Republican opponent, John McCain, received as his campaign's full public funding for the general election. Another 23 percent ($79 million) of Obama's general election funds came from donors who gave $201-$999 while the largest portion, 42 percent ($143 million) came from donors who gave $1,000 or more. Obama was the first major party presidential nominee since the public financing system was created in 1974 not to accept public financing for the general election.