blogger interrupted

WSJ’s claim that Obama only raised $30 million in June is being disputed by the Obama camp.  That’s good.  On a number of levels.

First, the only reason $30 million in a month is “underwhelming” is that Barack Obama has raised the bar so high.  Either way, that’s a massive number.  Second, that’s not the number.  The real number is apparently higher.  And third, how great is it that the WSJ does Barack a favor by lowballing the number?

There’s been some consternation that the FISA-driven whining is driving down some online money.  Possibly.  But even if you accept that the main base of donors, i.e. online lefties, are sitting still right now (and I don’t), one would certainly expect a slowdown, given the long primary, donor fatigue in the base, and Hillary money issues still outstanding.  And yet, Barack has raised over $30 million in June, a figure Barack’s campaign calls “way off the mark”.

Make no mistake - Barack’s refusal to enter the public financing system really was a gutsy move.  The bet is that whatever slowdown online may occur in the lefty base, be it over FISA related whining, or any other moves to the center, it will be more than made up for by non-base givers, who have probably never given to a candidate online, maybe to a candidate EVER.  That’s a huge bet.  But if it pays off, I imagine the haul will dwarf the online giving from the base.  October’s numbers, as Obama becomes ever more accepted by the country as a whole, could be astronomical.

The lefty blogosphere donor base is well-oiled, used to giving, and not nearly tapped out, true.  But in relation to the nation as a whole, the lefty blogosphere donor base is miniscule.  If Barack can crack that nut, $30 million in a month will look like child’s play.

Popularity: 5% [?]