Jeb Bush 'on Track to Be a Billion-Dollar Force' in Election 2016

Jeb Bush, laying claim to some of the nation's wealthiest donors, has to be scaring the pants off other candidates, red and blue, in the 2016 presidential race.

Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley just called Jeb out on his excessive fundraising, zipping this off to his "friend" list:
 
"Here's something ridiculous: Jeb Bush and his "allies" (read: Super-PAC) reported they've raised $114 million this quarter. They're on track to be a billion-dollar force in this race, and most of what they raised came from an incredibly small group of wealthy donors."

True. A billion-dollar race is pretty ridiculous. The phenomenal veracity of Bush's pac Right to Rise has left the rest of the running field groping for their "grass roots."

"... While Jeb and others in the Republican Party appeal to the wealthy few, Martin O'Malley is presenting actionable ideas and policies that will help strengthen the middle class, provide debt-free college for all, and demand accountability from Wall Street," says the O'Malley emailer.

He's going to need them.

The Bush pac's massive fundraising total doesn't necessarily represent a huge swell of popular support, as O'Malley points out. According to a Right to Rise statement, the organization raised money from just 9,900 donors. At least 9,400 of them gave less than $25,000. 

OK, that migtht sound like those donors are relatively small time -- and certainly they are compared to the group's largest donors -- but considering the most an individual can give to Bush's actual presidential campaign is $5,400, you have to know Right to Rise's "small donors" are still big donors in the world of political fundraising.