Jeff Smith: On Mitt Romney’s Fundraising Underperformance

[Presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s fundraising underperformance] means a few things.

1) A lot of donors who supported Romney last time are jumping ship or dodging him.

2) As the heir to “establishment” frontrunner status, Romney should’ve been able to cultivate most of the 2008 McCain donors. That hasn’t happened.

3) Given how much Perry raised within Texas alone for a gubernatorial race, and given the oil industry’s success amid the national recession, there will be ample money for him to compete on a national stage.

4) The sheer number of people who continue to give money to Ron Paul, when they presumably have children who ask for toys, puppies, and other things, is mind-boggling.

(Cross-posted, with permission from the author, with Politico’s Arena)