By IANS
New York : Democratic presidential frontrunner Barack Obama has raised almost $6 million after Super Tuesday from online donations to counter what his campaign said the startling news of rival Hillary Clinton loaning $5 million of her personal money to her campaign.
In a mass email to supporters, Obama’s campaign manager David Plouffe has said that Bill and Hillary Clinton’s infusion of $5 million – and there are reports it could end up being as much as $20 million – is a “clear acknowledgement that our campaign has the momentum”.
But then, he added in his mail Wednesday, this money will give the Clinton campaign huge resources for the next set of primaries and caucuses.
Plouffe went on to appeal for more donations from the public. “We have no choice. We must match their $5 million right now.”
The result: by Wednesday night here, the campaign had crossed that figure from online donations.
Donations, as low as $25 from the public, have characterised Obama’s campaign. A total of over 650,000 people have contributed to the Illinois senator’s campaign so far.
Obama has given credit to support from ordinary people for his good showing in the Feb 5 primaries in over 20 states.
“We won Tuesday because thousands upon thousands of individual supporters canvassed their neighbourhoods, talked to their neighbours and friends, and made phone calls to remind their fellow supporters to get out the vote.”
“And we accomplished all of this with a campaign funded by ordinary people giving only what they can afford,” the campaign statement read.