In developmentFunding figures are drawn from Federal Election Commission filings. Some planned sections are not yet published and are marked where they appear.
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Funding profile

Barack Obama

Democrat · 44th President

Career totals · 2 elections · 2008–2012

<1%

of everything Obama has raised across 4 years, from 2008 to 2012 came from political action committees — organized groups rather than individual voters. That is $13,000 of $1.52 billion raised in all.

These are career totals — the sum of the 2elections listed further down, each of which links to the Commission’s own page where the figure matches line for line. See Obama on FEC.gov

Where the money came from

Everything Obama’s campaigns have reported raising, combined across every election.

$1.52 billionraised
  • Individual donorsMoney given by people, in their own name.80%$1.21 billion
  • Political action committeesOrganized groups: company-run committees, unions, trade associations.<1%$13,000
  • Other sourcesParty transfers, the candidate's own money, loans and smaller categories.20%$307 million
Federal Election Commission filings across 2 elections. Percentages may not total 100 because each is rounded.

Money spent about this member

Outside groups may spend without limit for or against a candidate, provided they do not coordinate with the campaign. This money never appears in Obama’s own filings, and Obama has no legal control over it.

This is not a donation. Nobody gave this money to Obama. Outside groups spent it on advertising for or against Obama across their elections. We report it separately from campaign funding because the law treats it separately — and because a group spending against a candidate is plainly not funding them.

$357.9 million

has been spent for or against Obama by outside groups. $23.4 million supported Obama; $334.5 million opposed Obama.

Largest outside spenders

Summed across 1 election, using the Commission's aggregated totals so amended filings and 24-hour notices are not double-counted.

  • Spent againstRESTORE OUR FUTURE, INC.$88.6 million
  • Spent againstAMERICAN CROSSROADS$84.5 million
  • Spent againstREPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE$41.1 million
  • Spent againstAMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY$33.5 million
  • Spent againstCROSSROADS GRASSROOTS POLICY STRATEGIES$15.3 million
  • Spent againstAMERICANS FOR JOB SECURITY$15.2 million
  • Spent againstNATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA POLITICAL VICTORY FUND$7.6 million
  • Spent againstAMERICAN FUTURE FUND$7.5 million

Election by election

The career figures above are the sum of these. Each links to the Commission’s page for that election.

ElectionRaisedFrom PACsOutside spending
2012$742.6 million$0 0%$357.9 millionFEC
2008$778.6 million$13,000 <1%noneFEC

What is not published yet

We would rather show less than show something unsourced.

Industry-by-industry breakdowns, named individual donors, and how this member’s votes align with the groups funding them are all planned. They are absent because we have not verified them, and a funding profile is only worth reading if every line on it has been checked. Our methodology explains what we verify before publishing.