Contrary to my speculation at the time, the Bat's opening hour was a reflection of pent-up demand and not a sustainable pace. Ah well.

I agree with those who think the goal was too high; how much more interested and enthusiastic would people be if the bat sat today at its $2 million level and there were two more days to reach $3 million instead of $5 million? I still think there's a good chance they'll reach $5 million, but how much ... happier people would be if that number were the smashing of a lower goal and not the bare meeting of it.

Anyway.

Here's a different thing I don't understand about the Dean campaign's talking points; they rightly make the following claim:

Blog for America : You are Unstoppable | September 27, 2003

You have made history-- already you have broken Bill Clinton's record of $10.3 million-- the most ever raised by a Democrat in a single quarter.

...but why not mention the other elements that make it mean even more?

• Clinton was President at the time, a.k.a. Fundraiser-in-Chief, with all sorts of people trying to gain favor by contributing. Dean's just a former governor.
• Clinton was running unopposed in the primary. Dean has nine opponents fighting him for contributors' dollars.

I think both of those factors make Dean's quarter all the more remarkable.