Breaking news: ABC is reporting that Obama outraised Clinton in terms of primary dollars. Below the jump for the details.
Edit: Wow, first recommended diary. Thanks all!
ABC News has learned that the $23.5 million Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., raised for his presidential campaign for use in the primaries is more than that raised by the Democratic frontrunner, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.
Of the $26 million Clinton has raised in the first quarter of 2007 for her presidential campaign, approximately $20 million is for use in the primaries and caucuses, sources tell ABC News.
So it looks like Obama: 23.5 million and Clinton with $20 mil. This turns a HUGE story into a STUNNING one. You think the papers will hesitate to point out this bit of news?
I should point out that these are NOT confirmed numbers. The reports won't be finalized until April 15.
So what is the political fallout?
The remaining $6 of $26 million raised by Clinton money is designated for use in the general election if the former First Lady wins her party's nomination. Clinton also has slightly more than $10 million that she has transferred from her 2006 Senate campaign account.
Clinton has a distinct money advantage and leads in every national poll, but the fact that rookie Obama has bested a veteran like Clinton in many aspects of fundraising — he rasied $6.9 million on the Internet, for instance, compared with Clinton's $4.2 million — has stunned the political world.
"We're really humbled by the amazing outpouring of support," Obama today told WLS Radio. "It is broad-based — we did it without taking PAC money, without taking federal lobbyist money, so we feel really good about it."
Added a prominent supporter, Rep. Jesse Jackson, D-Ill., "This is a long road and a long process to the White House, but make no doubt about it, Barack Obama is driving the fastest car."
Edit to add: I just had to add the response from the Clinton camp.
The reaction this evening from Hillary Clinton's top fundraiser — who has made it his career to raise political money — was: money doesn't matter.
"Ultimately, forget the money. You've got to get votes," said Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's campaign chairman. "And right now, Hillary wins in that category. She wins every single poll today."
Priceless!