Sweet blog special: Obama raises "at least" $25 million 1qtr. Very close to Clinton's haul--but Clinton has $10 million more than Obama to spend. Team Obama brags of 2qtr "separation gap."

CHICAGO–The Obama campaign released first quarter numbers Wednesday morning. Raised “at least” $25 million for his presidential campaign, of which $23.5 million is for his primary.

Quite a haul.

Very close to chief rival Hillary Rodham Clinton’s $26 million first quarter total–but she was able to transfer in $10 million from her Senate campaign that she could use for the primary. So for the practical matter of spending–Clinton at this point has millions of dollars more. And it may be that Obama actually outraised Clinton for the primary this quarter. Clinton included in her $26 million total money she collected for the primary and general election. She released the number in a lump sum. Of the Obama $25 million, $23.5 million is for the primary and the rest for the general election. So it is possible–now even likely–when more data comes out, Obama will have had a better primary first quarter.

The surge of money towards Obama shows his strength.

Team Obama is bragging of a strong second quarter–looking ahead to the day when there will be a “separation gap” between Obama and the rest of the Democrats.

for Obama release on this, click below….

from the Obama campaign…

Over 100,000 People Donate to Obama Campaign in First Quarter

Campaign Raises At Least $25 Million, At Least $23.5 Million for Primary

Chicago, IL- The Obama for America campaign today announced that it will report raising at least $25 million from more than 100,000 people in the first quarter of 2007, with at least $23.5 million eligible to be spent in the Democratic primary.

This overwhelming response, in only a few short weeks, shows the hunger for a different kind of politics in this country and a belief at the grassroots level that Barack Obama can bring out the best in America to solve our problems, said Obama for America Finance Chair Penny Pritzker.

The Obama campaign raised $6.9 million over the Internet from more than 50,000 donors.

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