The BIG News on 2008 Fundraising

As if it wasn't surprising enough that Barack Obama nearly outraised Hillary Clinton and apparently did on campaign cash, or that Mitt Romney was the top fundraiser in the GOP, the creme de la creme, so the speak, of the fundraising surprises is that the Democratic candidates outraised the Republican candidates...not just barely, but by a 2 to 1 margin.

The Democrats raised $80 million to the Republicans' $40 million. Up until the last election, the GOP always had a huge advantage in fundraising, which allowed them to have an advantage over the Democrats in ad buys and ultimately the election. Now, the Democrats have the money advantage.

Interestingly, three of the top five fundraisers are Democrats. Clinton and Obama rank out #1 and 2, followed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. GOP "frontrunner" Rudy Giuliani only raised as much money as third place Democrat John Edwards, who rank out the top five.