People Pony Up for Obama

Barack Obama knows how to raise money.

He's Clinton good at raising cash.

MASON CITY, Iowa -- If money talks in presidential politics, Sen. Barack Obama has 25 million reasons why skeptical Democrats should start to listen.

The $25 million in campaign contributions the Illinois Democrat reported collecting in the first three months of this year was just $1 million less than rival Hillary Rodham Clinton's record haul and was a remarkable feat for a novice in national politics.

"He was the newcomer, he was the outsider, and this shows he's a serious candidate," said Ron Parker, a Democratic strategist in Iowa, home of the nation's first nominating caucuses. "It shows he can do a lot more than draw big crowds."

...Obama backers also were cheering the fact that $23.5 million of the $25 million they raised is targeted at what's shaping up to be a competitive primary fight. Clinton has not disclosed how much of her money is targeted at the primary and how much must be held for general election use, should the New York senator be the nominee.

Obama told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his fundraising reflects the growing enthusiasm for his bid.

"It indicates that people are really engaged and enthusiastic, and the crowds we've been attracting, I think, are indicative of a broad base of support across the country," Obama said just before speaking to a raucous crowd of more than 2,500 at a community college.

Obama has no shame when it comes to asking for money.



At the end of February, he told an audience in Cleveland, "I want everyone here to pony up five dollars, ten dollars for this campaign. I don't care how poor you are, you've got five dollars."

THAT'S how you make $25 million in three months.