Opinion: While the nation counts delegates, Obama and Clinton count $$

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Evidently, California is a bottomless bank account for Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Obama collected more than $5.9 million from the Golden State toward his presidential effort in February, a month that saw him take in $55 million total. Clinton hauled in $4.3 million from California of her overall monthly total of $34.6 million, according to fresh campaign finance filings mined by The Times’ Dan Morain.

For both candidates, California was their largest source of lucre, as it has been throughout the campaign for numerous candidates. But Obama is showing impressive fundraising prowess across state and regional lines.

Obama shuns money from lobbyists and Washington insiders. But in February, as his delegate lead grew, the Illinois senator collected far more than any other remaining candidates in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. He raked in $3.31 million there compared with Clinton’s $2.09 million and Republican Sen. John McCain’s $1.17 million out of his February total of $11 million.

Obama also continued to tap Wall Street and its environs, out-raising Clinton in her home state of New York. In the tri-state region of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, Obama raised $5.4 million to Clinton’s $4.9 million and McCain’s $1.2 million.

Obama raised $1.69 million in the Lone Star State to Clinton’s $1.46 million.
Obama continues to attract Hollywood money: Geena Davis gave him $4,600. Also giving him $2,300 checks in February were Dustin Hoffman, Zach “Scrubs” Braff and Richard Gere.

Clinton’s celebrity checks came from, among others, Bette Midler, who gave $4,600, and $2,300 from America “Ugly Betty” Ferrera.

-- Andrew Malcolm