Dean, Kucinich Democratize Fundraising

A chart by the Center for Responsive Politics shows the reliance of most of the Democratic candidates on donations at the $2,000 level. (The percentage is of all contributions greater than $200. See opensecrets.org.)

Edwards: 67%
Gephardt: 56%
Lieberman: 54%
Kerry: 53%
Clark: 31%
Braun: 30%
Dean: 13%
Kucinich: 12%
(Accurate information for Sharpton was not available.)

Dean and Kucinich have managed to become less reliant on the superrich, which should make them more responsive to the needs of ordinary people.

And they have also managed to ignite the grassroots, giving vast numbers of people a sense of empowerment in the process of nominating a Presidential candidate, a process that usually is reserved for the handlers and the pollsters and the $2,000-a-platers.