An examination of contributions to the Mitt Romney campaign reveals an enthusiasm gap. While raking in some $63 million through the end of January, his support among those giving small amounts is far less than his rivals for the GOP presidential nomination,
The Washington Post reported.
The former Massachusetts governor’s take was twice that of his nearest fund-raising rival, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who brought in $30 million.
However, Paul, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum all raised more than half of their money from small donors. Romney brought in just 12 percent from small donors, even less than in 2008 when 25 percent of his fundraising came from small donors, the Post reported.
“This is not just about money,” Michael Malbin, who studies small donors at the nonpartisan Campaign Finance Institute, told the Post. “It’s a symptom or a symbol of something that’s more important generally in politics. There’s a large overlap between the kind of people who give $50 and $100 and the kind of people who volunteer.”
By contrast, President Barack Obama has raised 70 percent of his reelection money from small donors through January, a rate even higher rate than his in 2008, the Post reported.
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