Blast from the Past

You are here: Blog / Blast from the Past

1:00 PM, Mar 10, 2010 • By JONATHAN V. LAST

Single Page Print Larger Text Smaller Text Alerts

Howard Dean has resurrected his "Hit the Bat" gimmick in an effort to raise money to "fight for a public option" in the healthcare bill.It looks hokey now, but it's worth remembering that "Hit the Bat" was the first serious political fund-raising success on the internet. By September of 2003, Dean raised $25 million, mostly from small, individual donors, online. Deaniacs would come to Dean's site, read the blog, comment, and pony up their credit cards, all in one swoop. It was pioneering stuff.

Hit the Bat! Hit the Bat!

It's also worth remembering that even though Dean led the field in fundraising (and media adoration), he lost 16 consecutive primaries/caucuses, with his only win coming in Vermont, after he had withdrawn from the race.