Obama May Lose Small Donors for 2012

Small donors who gave $100 or less played a crucial role in financing President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign. But it’s an open question whether they’ll be so generous this time around, Politico reports.

“The success of his low-dollar fundraising will depend far more on the intangible combination of hope and fear that resulted in Obama raising about $500 million just online during his groundbreaking 2008 campaign,” the news service states.

But it’s unclear what would create that kind of environment. Obama must do it himself or hope his Republican opponents provide him an opportunity to reconnect with his base.

“Online fundraising is driven by big moments,” said Patrick Ruffini, a Republican consultant who has studied Obama’s results in 2008. Senior Democrats echoed that view.