by Erik Love

April 15 was the deadline for the 2008 Presidential Candidates to submit their official first quarter fundraising reports.  Those of us following ATM Watch, the Courage Campaign project that monitors visits to California from the '08 candidates, are not surprised to learn that Californians gave more dollars to the campaigns than any other state.

None of the major candidates in the race is originally from California, which makes our generosity all the more impressive.  Californians donated some 20 million dollars to the presidential campaigns, with Democrats raising $8 for every $5 raised by the Republicans.  No other state gave as much to the campaigns.  

This is notable because it's been the pattern in presidential campaigns for so long -- come to California for money, but go to Iowa for votes.  ATM Watch's goal to to change all that -- to make California not just a place for political donations, but also a place where the candidates must tell us about their positions on the issues that we think are important.

Check out this interactive map to see specific California donations for each candidate in the race, and be sure to join us at ATM Watch to hold the candidates to account as they continue to visit our state.