Obama is winning the political fundraising race

President Barack Obama and the Democrats have raised more money this year nationally — and in Wisconsin — than the entire Republican presidential field combined, a sign of Democratic unity while Republicans audition a parade of would-be nominees.

Nationally, the president and the Democratic National Committee raised nearly $175 million through Sept. 30, well ahead of the $154 million collected by GOP presidential candidates and the Republican National Committee.

In Wisconsin, Obama’s fundraising efforts brought his campaign $377,261, according to Oct. 15 filings with the Federal Election Commission.

Republican presidential candidates raised a combined $295,247 during that same period.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has led GOP contenders in national polls throughout much of the campaign, topped Republican fundraising in Wisconsin at $101,119.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas hauled in $60,502 and Herman Cain, former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, raised $52,721 in the Badger State.

None of the remaining GOP contenders amassed more than $25,000 in Wisconsin.

“At this point (with nearly a dozen candidates in the race), it’s going to be more difficult for any particular Republican challenger to raise lots of money against the president,” said Arnold Shober, a political scientist at Lawrence University in Appleton.

Shober said Wisconsin’s relatively late April 3 primary combined with federal campaign contribution limits — $2,500 for a primary election and $2,500 for the general election — would further hamper GOP candidates as they tap Wisconsinites for contributions.

“Unless (donors) have strong connections to Romney or Cain or whoever, it’s more difficult for those candidates to suggest to Republicans that they should open up their wallet and donate to (the candidate) when (he or she) may not be around in a month,” Shober said.

Nicole Larson, a spokeswoman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, said the early fundraising disparity between Obama and Republicans doesn’t presage an Obama victory next November.

“Despite the endless campaign trips President Obama is taking on the taxpayers’ dime, he is in deep trouble in swing states across the country,” Larson wrote in a statement. “Voters both in Wisconsin and nationwide are excited to vote for a fiscally conservative president in 2012 after being lied to in 2008 by their campaigner-in-chief. Rather than buying (a) second term with his big spending binge, Obama has invested in a one-term presidency.”

Like Larson, Lawrence’s Shober cautioned against reading too much into Obama’s cash advantage.
“Since money does not equal votes in America, at least most of the time, you can only use it as a rough measure of support,” Shober said, “but I would suspect the Republicans to do comparable to Obama once they actually have a nominee.”

Barry Burden, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s relatively poor total of $7,300 likely points to an uphill battle to win over Wisconsin GOP voters. “It suggests that he will have a difficult time getting traction in a state whose culture is so different from that of Texas,” Burden wrote in an email exchange.

Shober said Romney’s strong fundraising performance in Wisconsin stems from high name recognition and his more moderate political profile.

“Romney really is the most establishment — most moderate, perhaps — of the Republican field, and he’s been running for president longer than any of the other people,” Shober said. “If you think of the (former Wisconsin Gov.) Tommy Thompson wing of the Republican Party, he’s a pretty good fit for that.”
As for Obama, Shober said the president can take comfort in his ability to out-raise Republicans, even as his national approval ratings remain below 50 percent.

— Michael Louis Vinson writes for The Post-Crescent of Appleton.

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