WASHINGTON, April 2 (UPI) -- The Democratic National Committee and Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry Friday reported record fundraising totals for the first three months of 2004.
In separate releases Friday the DNC announced it had pulled in $27 million while the campaign of the Massachusetts senator said it raised more than $50 million, including more than $38 million in March alone.
First quarter gains for the Kerry campaign bring the total to more than $75 million. However, Kerry remains behind Bush, who as of March 1 had raised $159 million.
"We have achieved our goals -- more than achieved our goals," Campaign Manager Mary Beth Cahill told reporters in a conference call.
The campaign is shooting to raise $80 million before the Democratic National Convention in Boston this summer.
First quarter totals for both the DNC and the Kerry campaign beat 2000 results. In the first quarter of 2000 the DNC raised $26.9 million while Kerry beat the previous record set by a non-incumbent, George W. Bush, at $29 million.
