President Obama re-election team, Democrats raise $68 million in final three months of 2011
The fourth quarter total exceeds the team's $60 million goal, but is less than the $86 million and $70.1 million Obama and the DNC raked in during the second and third quarters of 2011
By Aliyah Shahid / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, January 12 2012, 8:13 AM
President Barack Obama hauled in an impressive $68 million in the final three months of last year, filling his 2011 campaign coffers with a total $222 million, his re-election team announced Thursday morning.
Jim Messina, Obama's campaign manager, told supporters in a video that of the fourth quarter totals, more than $42 million came from the re-election campaign and more than $24 million was from the Democratic National Committee.
About $1 million was contributed through a joint fund to help state parties in key states.
The fourth quarter total exceeds the team's $60 million goal, but is less than the $86 million and $70.1 million Obama and the DNC raked in during the second and third quarters of 2011.
Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney raised $24 million during the same time period, his campaign said Wednesday. While that total falls short of Obama's, it's far ahead of his GOP rivals.
Team Obama hopes to raise between $700 and $800 million before the November elections. In 2008, Obama shattered fundraising records, bringing in $750 million and sparking speculation that he could top $1 billion this campaign season.
In the video, Messina tamped claims his goal was to bring in 10 figures, insisting "the billion dollar number in completely untrue."
He also touted Obama's grassroots efforts, saying 1.3 million people donated to Obama's re-election this past quarter, with 98% of the contributions being $250 or less.
Obama, who is facing no primary opposition, has been able to stash huge sums of cash. But experts expect Republicans will follow suit as soon as their party selects a nominee.