Senator Barack Obama made Laconia his first public stop since announcing his record setting fundraising totals.
In just the past three months, the presidential hopeful has raised 31 million dollars.
While most voters dislike the role of money in campaigns, they do notice when a candidate they like does well.
New Hampshire Public Radio’s Dan Gorenstein reports.
Sfx: crowd
More than 300 stood in line waiting outside Riverside Park in downtown Laconia around lunchtime.
Some carried lawn chairs others had lunch in brown paper bags.
All were eager to see the Illinois Senator.
Many people in the crowd were pleased that Obama had raised over 30 million dollars in the last quarter.
But what really impressed Stan Brawlier of Laconia was that all that money came from 154 thousand people.
T.11
:48 I haven’t made a firm decision but I am leaning strongly here. And I guess the campaign results are really impressive, b/c I have believed in his message and his integrity from the beginning. The only question has been electability. And as that starts to show that more people are willing to go with what they believe in rather than where the masses are, the masses will move with it.
More than one person in Laconia Monday afternoon thought that such successful numbers would make voters take a second look at the Obama campaign.
Others took the news as vindication that the candidate’s message was resonating, despite the continued front-runner status of New York Senator Hillary Clinton.
In his speech Obama proudly said that he has raised more than 55 million dollars from 258,000 people without any help from political action committees or federal lobbyists.
3:03 people said we couldn’t compete by trusting in the American people, but we can b/c there are a quarter million people who want to see a new healthcare system, there are a quarter million people who want to turn the corner on our energy policy, there are at least a quarter million people who want to see this war in Iraq brought to an end...and that is the faith we have placed...in the core decency of the American people.
The next biggest earner of the quarter is Senator Clinton.
The Clinton campaign raised ten million less than Obama.
The only public reaction from the campaign today was it sent out a press release that shows Clinton with a 17 point lead over Obama in New Hampshire.
But Obama state director Matt Rodriguez dismissed the results.
He says he’s got less faith in phone conversations this far out before an election, than in their actions.
TAPE: ...the only real number is the number of people investing in the campaign.
But money doesn’t necessarily win you friends.
Betty-Ann Trot of Dorchester, New Hampshire believes Obama’s fundraising success is a by-product of his charisma- not necessarily his policy-making ability.
The retired nurse says she’s disappointed in his healthcare plan, preferring Senator Clinton’s.
She says, in general the money in politics is distressing.
TAPE I get very skeptical when I look at this race for money. I would prefer that we not have it. it’s just really hard for me to look at people buying the presidency. And so I am not here for that reason. I haven’t tgiven to them for that reason. If though I could. I’m just kind of sitting back and deciding who my candidate is and see then what we can do to help.
On his way out of the park, after Obama spoke and answered questions for about an hour, Laconia resident Stan Brawlier seemed convinced.
:42 I haven’t donated yet, but I think I am about to start.
Brawlier says he’s not sure how much he’s going to give, but that once he writes a check, he’s pretty much made up his mind how he’s going to vote.
For NHPR News, I’m DG.
Jack P. Crisp Jr.
I am wondering why Mr. Gorenstein's story on the fundraising during the last quarter by democratic candidate Senator Obama reports he raised $10,000,000 more than Senator Clinton while all other news outlets are reporting he raised $5,000,000 more.