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Posted: April 3, 2008 4:03 PM
Obama Announces $40M March Haul with 218,000 New Donors
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More than 442,000 contributors helped Sen. Barack Obama raise more than $40 million dollars in March, his campaign announced Thursday, adding that 218,000 were new donors.

“Today we’re seeing the American people’s extraordinary desire to change Washington, as tens of thousands of new contributors joined more than a million Americans who have already taken ownership of this campaign for change,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said in a statement. “Many of our contributors are volunteering for the campaign, making our campaign the largest grassroots army in recent political history.

Although the haul wasn’t as grandiose as his $55 million in February, Obama’s contributions efforts are likely to eclipse fundraising by Democratic presidential rival Sen. Hillary Clinton or presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain.

Clinton’s campaign, which raised $36 million in February, said the New York senator’s totals will not be released until required by the Federal Election Commission on April 20.

“We knew that (Obama) would outraise us. He has outraised us over the last few months,” Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said in a call to reporters. “We will have the resources we need to compete and be successful.”

McCain trails both Democrats in campaign funding, bringing in $12 million in February. His campaign has yet to report March numbers.

“McCain adviser Charlie Black told reporters Wednesday they expected solid numbers for March since McCain secured the nomination after the March 4 contests in Texas and Ohio,” the Wall Street Journal reported.

Obama raised about $131 million total in the first three months of the year, but the battle for the Democratic nomination continues.

Both Democrats are spending time in the coming days courting donors in California. Clinton held a fundraising rally in Beverly Hills Thursday, while Obama has “scheduled fundraisers at the homes of four different financial backers Sunday afternoon and evening in northern California,” the Associated Press reported.