Obama Banks $42M; Clinton's In The Red

March Fundraising Reports Show McCain Campaign's Best Month Yet; Clinton Cash-Strapped

(CBS/AP)  Barack Obama began the month of April with a 5-1 cash advantage over a debt-saddled Hillary Rodham Clinton, setting the stage for his lopsided spending in the crucial primary state of Pennsylvania.

Financial reports filed Sunday by the Democratic presidential candidates with the Federal Election Commission show Clinton had $10.3 million in debts at the start of the month and only about $9 million cash on hand for the primaries. Obama reported having $42 million for the primary and raised $41 million in March, including $888,000 for the general election.

Clinton's red ink poses yet another obstacle to her campaign as she seeks to end the primary season with a string of victories. She trails Obama in delegates, states won and popular votes. And she can't dent Obama's superior fundraising.

The March money positioned Obama to undertake an expensive April campaign in Pennsylvania, where he has spent at least twice as much as Clinton and cut into her lead. Pennsylvania votes on Tuesday.

Clinton, who had kept pace with Obama financially throughout last year, had even less cash on hand than Republican John McCain. McCain raised $15.2 million in March and had $11.6 million in the bank at the start of April. It was his best fundraising performance of the campaign, coming after he had essentially secured his party's presidential nomination.

CBS News' Allison O'Keefe reported Friday the McCain campaign was gearing up to fill the coffers with a 50-state victory financing plan which will include a number of regional finance directors and specific coordination with the Republican National Committee. Click here to read O'Keefe's Horserace blog post.

With the Democratic contest still in full boil, McCain has been on the sidelines, saving his money and completing payments on a loan.

Nearly half of Clinton's debt in March is money owed to the firm of her demoted former chief strategist, Mark Penn. The report shows that the campaign owes $4.6 million to Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates. The campaign has already paid the firm $14 million, including $3 million in March for polling and direct mail.

Clinton took away Penn's role as chief adviser earlier this month after he met with Colombian officials to discuss his private work on behalf of a Colombian free trade agreement, a trade deal Clinton opposes.

Obama's fundraising in March led all candidates, but was still lower than the mark he set in February, when he raised more than $55 million. The Illinois senator has raised $235 million in his campaign.

Money alone hasn't guaranteed Obama victories. He spent $30.6 million in March to Clinton's $22 million. The month began with tough contests in Ohio and Texas. He lost the popular vote to Clinton in both state primaries even though he outspent her, but he emerged with more delegates in Texas.

His report showed he spent $9 million on media advertising in March; Clinton spent less than a third of that. Obama spent nearly $5 million on telemarketing and $3.6 million for travel and lodging. Clinton spent about $5 million on travel and about $2 million on phone banks.

Clinton spokesman Jay Carson said Clinton's online fundraising is on the rise and noted that the March figures do not include the $2.5 million she raised last week at an Elton John concert in New York. Carson said the event's total sum included money from 6,000 new donors.

In January, Clinton made a $5 million personal loan to the campaign. The campaign has reported no other personal loans since.

McCain's biggest expense of the month was $3 million to Fidelity & Trust Bank to finish paying off a $4 million loan that had become the focus of a stalemate between McCain and the FEC. Campaign finance regulators want to make sure McCain did not use the promise of public financing in the primary to secure the loan. McCain was eligible for public financing in the primary, but his lawyers said they did not use that eligibility as collateral.

He also refunded donors about $3 million in contributions, most of it money he had received for the general election. The refunds set the stage for McCain to accept about $84 million in public funds for the fall campaign. Candidates who accept public financing cannot raise money from donors for the general election campaign.

In March, his operating expenses were $5 million, his smallest monthly expense so far this year.

McCain's March expenses ranged from $758,000 for air charters to $151.55 to a Los Angeles florist. The campaign reported a debt of $707,000, much of it outstanding American Express billings. McCain had his most fundraising success in California and Florida, each of which yielded more than $1 million.

[shanev137]

Just think what the billions all these candidates will raise before they''re done could have gone for.

[Lai K W]

You can see this guy who claims to change Washington.
At the end, he is the one who get changed to be just a politician.

He is what he claimed to be against.

He just gets to be better at words, smearing, twisting, double talking... See the changes, you can complete by voting THIS MANIAC into WHITE HOUSE.

[tbweb]

Sen. Obama''s ability to raise millions of dollars each month in record numbers has political experts looking on in awe, unable to analyze or speak intelligently about it, basically waiting for the money to stop pouring in before they comment, but the millions are not stopping, each month new millions appear as if by magic while others struggle to keep up financially! The sheer weight of Sen. Obama''s relentless fund raising will eventually end both races early, the Primary and General election, he will simply outspend his opposition into the ground and they already know it!

[marketxpert]

IT IS PATHETIC TO SEE NEGATIVE AND BIASED COMMENTS BY SOME OF YOU GUYS. OBAMA IS ADMIRED AND LOVED FOR HIS MESSAGE OF HOPE THAT DOES NOT BOTHER ON PREJUDICE. BESIDES, HE POSSESSES THE BEST QUALITATIVE CHARACTER AMONGST ALL VYING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. TAKE THE LOG OF HATE AND PREJUDICE OFF YOUR EYES AND SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY. OBAMA IS GOING TO WIN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THERE IS NO FORCE THAT CAN STOP IT. OBAMA IS FOR LOVE , EQUITY , JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY . GO OBAMA 2008

[haydenlh-2009]

Obama will raise another 40 million plus in April. Hilary needs to start spending her own 109 million because the people have stopped supporting her! McCain is taking federal matching funs because he can''t raise money. It is funny he won the primary and the republicans still won''t give him money. The part I don''t like about matching funs is it does not restrict the RNC which has all the money. The good news is Obama can fully advertise in every or almost every state. I''m hoping Obama can win an upset in Penn.

[trishab4]

The March figures do not include the $2.5 million she raised last week at an Elton John concert in New York. Carson said the event''s total sum included money from 6,000 new donors.

-Did her husband help out by playing sexophone, for Elton Jones?

[jjp735i]

Obama needs to take some of that $41 million and have his judgement looked at. Now he states evem McCain would be better than Bush, but before Obama said McCain was just like Bush.

McCain is just like Bush and we don''t need another one.

[guamusa1]

OBAMA IS NOT EVEN PRESIDENT AND IS ALREADY MAKING HISTORY.

[popstom1]

And this money is comeing and small doners yeah right

[mcvet]

And this money is comeing and small doners yeah right


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Posted by popstom1 at 06:19 AM : Apr 21, 2008
+ report abuse

Yep sure is! Kinda makes the Nazi position that Obama can''t lead look rather rediculous huh???

[mcvet]

You can see this guy who claims to change Washington.
At the end, he is the one who get changed to be just a politician.

He is what he claimed to be against.

He just gets to be better at words, smearing, twisting, double talking... See the changes, you can complete by voting THIS MANIAC into WHITE HOUSE.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by John_Lai at 04:02 AM : Apr 21, 2008
+ report abuse

Now you aren''t just a wee bit bigoted are you there sparky??? Go Obama!!

[jgunther7]

Did her husband help out by playing sexophone, for Elton Jones? Sorry trishab4, you got it wrong. Bill Clinton might have played saxophone for Paula Jones, or did you mean Elton Johns.

[skyk-2009]

It''s been a long time since anyone stired this kind of hope and excitement in the American Public. It''s amazing, absolutely amazing!

[jack3213]

HEY MARKETEXPERT- YOUR COMMENTS ARE SO NOT TRUE. ANYWHO- YOU ALL SAY GOOD BYE TO CLINTON- THIS IS HER LAST STANCE- PENN- AND THEN THERE WERE TWO. MCCAIN 2008. WILL WIN WITH SHINING COLORS COME THE GENERAL. HE IS MOST QUALIFIED- THAT IS WHAT SHOULD MATTER.

[skyk-2009]

HEY MARKETEXPERT- YOUR COMMENTS ARE SO NOT TRUE. ANYWHO- YOU ALL SAY GOOD BYE TO CLINTON- THIS IS HER LAST STANCE- PENN- AND THEN THERE WERE TWO. MCCAIN 2008. WILL WIN WITH SHINING COLORS COME THE GENERAL. HE IS MOST QUALIFIED- THAT IS WHAT SHOULD MATTER.


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Posted by jack3213 at 07:10 AM : Apr 21, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL Right? Do you think McSame can make it all the way to November without life support?? LOL

[popstom1]

200 million and can''t buy the nomintion

[hdinsight]

I''m sorry, how much money does it take to BUY the presidency? Forgive me, I thought VOTES counted more than DOLLARS.

[hdinsight]

Well, if money is the root of all evil, perhaps this means we should be voting for Clinton.

[abbe91]

"Just think what the billions all these candidates will raise before they''''re done could have gone for.
Posted by shanev137 at 03:56 AM : Apr 21, 2008"

The war in Iraq ???

[hungry1968]

Well, if money is the root of all evil, perhaps this means we should be voting for Clinton.

Posted by HDINSIGHT at 07:21 AM : Apr 21, 2008




And that''s because you think that her $109 million in 7 years DOES NOT make her an elitist, right?

$109 million in 7 years and SHE''S STILL IN DEBT?!?!

Is this really the fiscal irresponsibility we want as a president?

[hdinsight]

Billionaire bundlers are contributing the bulk of this booty. Don''t be fooled. Look beyond the Benjamins. This story is being run as the "top story" to intimidate Clinton supporters the day before the big election. Obama''s bulging financial muscles are being flexed to show us how "powerful" he is. Strength shouldn''t come from your bank account, it should come from your ability to perform beyond a podium and a microphone. Hillary Clinton needs your support. No need to write a check. Vote for her and you''ll be making the BEST investment in America''s future. Clinton in 2008.

[popstom1]

Three political aids on Obama payroll were
Registered lobbyist for dozens of corporations
including Wal-mart Britsh Petroleum and lockheed
martin thats 3 out of 47 yeah small doners right
corporations paying empolyees to donate can we say bundeling

[samrensho]

$109 million in 7 years and SHE''''S STILL IN DEBT?!?! Is this really the fiscal irresponsibility we want as a president?
Posted by hungry1968

That''s how she demonstrates her "experience". She''s as fiscally responsible and the current regime. He he he

[hdinsight]

To: hungry1968 --

You are confusing personal income with campaign funds. The Clintons have been extremely fiscally responsible & have the personal assets to prove this.

Clinton represents the core of the Democratic party, the blue collar voters, the lower income employees, women & the elderly. Many of these folks are struggling to make ends meet and are unable to contribute.

Just because a candidate lacks a limo full of billionaires to contribute to their campaign, doesn''t mean they can''t win their party''s nomination. Just ask Senator John McCain.

[jgunther7]

Hillary Clinton is the founder and chairman of the Senate India Caucus. One of her biggest donors, Sant Singh Chatwal, cited that Clinton''s India Caucus has vowed to raise $5 million dollars for her from companies that outsource American Jobs to India.

Sound familiar, $5 million, India raises $5 million for Hillary, Hillary loans $5 million to her primary campaign. Doe''s that mean the India Caucus provided $5 for Hillary''s primary campaign? If so it was a bad investment.

In the February 2005 issue of The India Review / On a recent trip to India, Senator Clinton laid to rest India''s fears that outsourcing American jobs would end. On that trip Senator Clinton said, %u201COUTSOURCING of AMERICAN Jobs will continue%u201D, and they have.

The people of Pennsylvania have supported Clinton and she has outsourced their jobs. The people of Pennsylvania vote for her and she rewards India. Somebody is being conned. She diverts our attention with little hissy fits about trivia that doesn''t matter while her husband Bill and manager Penn are carrying bags of money out the back door. Maybe they can pledge that $800,000 they got from Columbia to the campaign deficit.
Don''t accept a check from the Clintons, they are cash only type of people.

[formrusmcsgt]

Clinton reported raising $20 million in March and had $9 million for the primary available at the beginning of April. But she also reported debts of $10.3 million, putting her in the red.

Overall, Obama had $51 million in the bank at the end of March...
-----
The Hillary supporters apparently are all talk and won''t pony up for their candidate.

[thisandthat1]

It''s only natural that her contributor''s are drying up now that they know she can''t win the nomination. They''re not going to keep pouring their money into a losing candidate.

[craigh9]

You are confusing personal income with campaign funds. The Clintons have been extremely fiscally responsible & have the personal assets to prove this.
Posted by HDINSIGHT at 07:53 AM : Apr 21, 2008

It''s pretty easy to be fiscally responsible when you are an ex-president and a senator - nearly 100% of your expenses - no matter how large - are covered by the US government. c

[mcvet]

Just because a candidate lacks a limo full of billionaires to contribute to their campaign, doesn''''t mean they can''''t win their party''''s nomination. Just ask Senator John McCain.


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Posted by HDINSIGHT at 07:53 AM : Apr 21, 2008
+ report abuse

SO! You think the MILLION Plus who contribute to Obama are a "limo full of billionaires" huh? So YOU think the reason McSame is the canidate isn''t because he was the ONLY one that had ANY chance of winning?? Not just a little out of touch here are you?? LOL Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

Three political aids on Obama payroll were
Registered lobbyist for dozens of corporations
including Wal-mart Britsh Petroleum and lockheed
martin thats 3 out of 47 yeah small doners right
corporations paying empolyees to donate can we say bundeling



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Posted by popstom1 at 07:41 AM : Apr 21, 2008
+ report abuse

Duh?? YOU have confused the canidates sparky... McSame has THOSE lobbist on HIS payroll. But hey you folks can''t be right all the time huh??? ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush

[rowdytexan2]

Those oil companies and energy companies are really ponying up for Obama. What''s he gonna do for them, sell us out to them like BUSH did?

[rowdytexan2]

Isn''t it funny, college kids are all over the internet hooting that they can barely live and go to school, much less contribute big bucks to the Obama campaign!

Whatta RIP!

[mcvet]

I''''m sorry, how much money does it take to BUY the presidency? Forgive me, I thought VOTES counted more than DOLLARS.


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Posted by HDINSIGHT at 07:17 AM : Apr 21, 2008
+ report abuse

Duh??? The MILLION PLUS who are contributing to this Man ARE voters!! LOL

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by MCVet at 08:16 AM : Apr 21, 2008

They''re voters all right. On the board of directors for special interst companies and lawyers.

Again, what''s he gonna do, sell us out to them like Bush did?

[rowdytexan2]

They got Rezko out of jail, probably so he could get that Hamas endorsement money over here.

[rowdytexan2]

I''d certainly need to look at the books before I believe this krap that comes out of the Obama campaign.

These people will say anything to get an edge. They''re proven trash.

[pugster]

Might as well pay me $100 to vote for the person and forget about spending the money on all the ads.

[hdinsight]

To: formrusmcsgt -- Not having the financial resources to make a juicy contribution to Hillary Clinton''s campaign does not make Clinton supporters less committed to her candidacy. It just implies that they are less affluent.

[hungry1968]

To: hungry1968 --

You are confusing personal income with campaign funds. The Clintons have been extremely fiscally responsible & have the personal assets to prove this.

Clinton represents the core of the Democratic party, the blue collar voters, the lower income employees, women & the elderly. Many of these folks are struggling to make ends meet and are unable to contribute.

Just because a candidate lacks a limo full of billionaires to contribute to their campaign, doesn''''t mean they can''''t win their party''''s nomination. Just ask Senator John McCain.

Posted by HDINSIGHT at 07:53 AM : Apr 21, 2008





Hannity Clinton DOES NOT represent the blue collar voters of this country. She represents the "same old, same old" political system - just like McCain does.

"Don''t change the system!! It''s designed for me to stay in power, once I am in power!!"

Her kitchen sink strategy is the perfect example of this - "I MUST WIN at all costs, even if it destroys BOTH MY CHANCES TO WIN AND OBAMA''S CHANCES TO WIN the presidency, or if it destroys the democratic party as a whole!!"

I''m sure Karl Rove is either proud of her, or jealous that he didn''t think of it first.

[hungry1968]

Those oil companies and energy companies are really ponying up for Obama. What''''s he gonna do for them, sell us out to them like BUSH did?

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 08:14 AM : Apr 21, 2008




They''re no fools - they''re hedging their bets and placing their money on the OBVIOUS eventual president. Just because they''re sucking up to him now, doesn''t mean he''s buying into it, or that he''ll pay them back later.

[hdinsight]

To: MCVet --

Votes at the ballot box will decide who ultimately wins Pennsylvania.

Although you are assuming that all of Obama''s money is coming from your average Joe, that is not the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The real reason why Obama contributions are breaking records is because Obama has "79 bundlers, five of them billionaires, who have tapped their personal networks to raise at least $200,000 each. They have helped the campaign recruit more than 27,000 donors to write checks for $2,300, the maximum allowed." These donations are much larger than the average Democratic voter can afford. This explains a great deal.

[hungry1968]

Isn''''t it funny, college kids are all over the internet hooting that they can barely live and go to school, much less contribute big bucks to the Obama campaign!

Whatta RIP!

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 08:16 AM : Apr 21, 2008





And it''s STILL so important to them, that they''re STILL contributing to his campaign - even as broke as they are.

[hungry1968]

I''''d certainly need to look at the books before I believe this krap that comes out of the Obama campaign.

These people will say anything to get an edge. They''''re proven trash.

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 08:25 AM : Apr 21, 2008





How come nobody wants to contribute to Hillary''s campaign?

[trishab4]

billionaire publisher Richard Mellon Scaife (seen here in 1997), who had personally bankrolled investigations into the private affairs of Bill Clinton, feeding what Hillary termed a "vast right-wing conspiracy" against her husband. Scaife''s Pittsburgh Tribune Review has endorsed Hillary in Tuesday''s Pennsylvania primary.

-Should it be impressing to have a backing by a right-winger for Sen.Clinton? I''d say it has the same effect than having McCane backing Clinton. He wants with other Repukons to back her for Pa, in order to trash her in the rubbish once the presidential campaign came to a term, if she gets the Democrats'' nomination. Sen. Clinton, if she takes notice and enjoys his backing, is like she''s embarking on a mines field walk.

[b-easy63]

Did Clinton pay all those vendors she has resisted since the start of the campaign?

1. did she finally pay all of her bills in Iowa?

2. did she finally pay the health insurance premiums for her workers?

Everyone else should not have to wait to be paid because they have creditors too. When she rakes in new donations, she and her campaign should make paying all those debts paramount. It''s what responsible people would and should do--nobody can tell all their creditors that they are "good for it, someday" and get away with that. She is extremely callous, incompetent and irresponsible if she fails to pay her debts in a timely manner.

[hungry1968]

To: formrusmcsgt -- Not having the financial resources to make a juicy contribution to Hillary Clinton''''s campaign does not make Clinton supporters less committed to her candidacy. It just implies that they are less affluent.

Posted by HDINSIGHT at 08:27 AM : Apr 21, 2008




I don''t think it''s "less affluent" - it''s more like "apathetic".

THAT is THE difference between the candidates. Who is more charismatic, and can better unite people to rally around a cause, and get the important work done and the important legislation passed.

[b-easy63]

HEY MARKETEXPERT- YOUR COMMENTS ARE SO NOT TRUE. ANYWHO- YOU ALL SAY GOOD BYE TO CLINTON- THIS IS HER LAST STANCE- PENN- AND THEN THERE WERE TWO. MCCAIN 2008. WILL WIN WITH SHINING COLORS COME THE GENERAL. HE IS MOST QUALIFIED- THAT IS WHAT SHOULD MATTER.

Posted by jack3213 at 07:10 AM : Apr 21, 2008


If McCain keeps having dementia attacks where he publicly calls his wife a **** and can''t remember which wars we are presently fighting, people will drop off from him. There will be nothing more scary than when the mask slips completely away and McCain insists we will be able to take Vietnam if we will just level Hanoi and kill Al Qaeda who are helping the Iranian sunnis fight the Vietcong. LOL

[trishab4]

Obama Banks $41M; Clinton''s In The Red
March Fundraising Reports Show McCain Campaign''s Best Month Yet; Clinton Cash-Strapped

-Pitiful Senator Clinton, stills calls herself the best candidate... I think she''s hardly anything more than a forgotten event during this nomination run. The only hope for her is to do her husband the same thing Monica did him, hoping he''d inject some money into her campaign. And she wants to be President! Woooooooshhhhh! If that had to take place, we''d see the END of the USA, she''d finish the job started by the Chief-Liar G. W. Bush.

[b-easy63]

To: MCVet --

Votes at the ballot box will decide who ultimately wins Pennsylvania.

Although you are assuming that all of Obama''''s money is coming from your average Joe, that is not the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The real reason why Obama contributions are breaking records is because Obama has "79 bundlers, five of them billionaires, who have tapped their personal networks to raise at least $200,000 each. They have helped the campaign recruit more than 27,000 donors to write checks for $2,300, the maximum allowed." These donations are much larger than the average Democratic voter can afford. This explains a great deal.

Posted by HDINSIGHT at 08:40 AM : Apr 21, 2008


Wow!! Is that for real? So that is how Obama is doing it? Now...explain why debt ridden Clinton who has not yet paid all her bills--has not caught on..no bundlers? Or just a spendthrift--quick to spend but to irresponsible to pay all the vendors their fees?

[hungry1968]

The real reason why Obama contributions are breaking records is because Obama has "79 bundlers, five of them billionaires, who have tapped their personal networks to raise at least $200,000 each. They have helped the campaign recruit more than 27,000 donors to write checks for $2,300, the maximum allowed." These donations are much larger than the average Democratic voter can afford. This explains a great deal.

Posted by HDINSIGHT at 08:40 AM : Apr 21, 2008



Here is Obama''s list of bundlers:

http://answercenter.barackobama.com/cgi-bin/barackobama.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=130&p_created=1176309944&p_sid=7EUnxFQi&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MiwyJnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0wJnBfcHY9JnBfY3Y9JnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9YnVuZGxlcg**&p_li=&p_topview=1



Where''s Hillary''s?

Why is Norman Hsu the ONLY one listed?