As Bush campaign nears money goal, volunteers can turn attention to GOP

[By the end of 2003, Bush] had taken in about $133 million, beating the presidential record of $106 million he set in the 2000 primaries. Bush raised almost as much as the original 10 Democratic candidates combined.

By late January, Bush’s total topped $144 million. Should the recent pace of $2 million to $4 million a week continue, he can expect to have his $150 million by mid-February.

Bush is doing so with help from at least 423 volunteer fund-raisers. They include at least 156 “rangers”; 245 “pioneers,” who collected at least $100,000 each; and 22 “mavericks,” who brought in at least $50,000 each.

Why does an incumbent President need so much money? Because he can’t win on merits (as we saw in 2000). mjh