Obama Needs More Cash To Reach Goals

Politico: August's $66M Haul Is Only A Down Payment On Huge Sums Democratic Nominee Seeks To Raise

(The Politico)  This story was written by Jeanne Cummings.

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Barack Obama's $66 million haul in August donations may set records but it's only a down payment on the huge sums the Democratic presidential nominee must continue to collect in order to compete through the Nov. 4 election.

Obama is attempting to become the first candidate to privately finance the general election phase of his campaign, and his August performance seems to be a good start.

His announcement that he had $77 million in cash in the bank at the end of August came strikingly close to the roughly $85 million in taxpayer funds that Republican John McCain has to spend on the entire general election.

But the August sum came after a full-court press by the campaign and in the midst of the Democratic National Convention, historically an easier time to generate donations because the party base is focused and united. The campaign announced that it had recruited 500,000 new donors in August, which brings the number of total contributors to 2.5 million.

Meanwhile, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's selection as McCain's running mate has lit up the Republican National Committee's online fundraising, creating a vibrant and fresh source of income to add to the party's already formidable big donor program.

RNC officials said Internet donations have quadrupled since Palin joined the ticket.

While Obama's campaign coffers are brimming, an effort to funnel money into battleground state party committees lags far behind campaign goals and Republican giving.

Finally, McCain-friendly outside groups already are mobilizing and launching independent attack ads on the Illinois senator. Meanwhile, Obama has sent word to the Democratic community that he wouldn't welcome similar independent groups working on his behalf - essentially sidelining what could have been critical allies.

Those complex dynamics are likely to put additional pressure on Obama and his financing team. The enormity of the task is already fraying nerves in Chicago and eating into the Illinois senator’s campaign time as the campaign combs the country for both small and big donations.

“It’s a logistically challenging fundraising environment they face, because time is not on their side and their goals are so ambitious,” said Anthony Corrado, an expert on money and politics.

“Do the math. They have to raise about $3 million a day” to reach an estimated target of about $200 million, he added.

That helps explain why a steady stream of electronic donation appeals was flying out of the Obama headquarters throughout the Democratic convention in Denver.

“I’d like to thank you for the warm welcome I’ve received as the newest member of this campaign,” opened one video message from Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), the vice presidential nominee. The e-mail closed with the obligatory red donate button.

“My mom, the girls and I left home in Chicago and got to Denver yesterday,” opened Michelle Obama’s appeal. “I am so lucky to be married to the woman who delivered that speech last night,” crowed Obama in his own appeal, signed simply Barack.

Similar appeals were dispatched during the Republicans’ convention the following week in St. Paul, Minn.

“I wasn’t planning on sending you something tonight. But if you saw what I saw from the Republican convention, you know that it demands a response,” campaign manager David Plouffe wrote after Palin mocked Obama’s work as a community organizer.

The appeal, and Palin’s attacks, helped Obama raise a record $10 million in single day.

Big donors are equally inundated but they are costlier targets since many of those donors reside outside of the critical swing states.

Tuesday, Obama is scheduled to be in Beverly Hills, a Zip code that is home to plenty of Democratic money but in a state whose electoral votes he already has in the bag. Money raised will go to the Democratic National Committee and his own cmpaign.

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The Money Race
Check out July tallies for Obama and McCain - including how much they've raised and spent since the campaign began.

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At 5 p.m., he’ll headline a $28,500-per-head affair followed by a 7 p.m. $2,500 reception that has Barbra Streisand as an added draw. He’ll also attend an Asian-Americans reception “and photo line,” which carries a $28,500 price tag.

Biden is also carrying a crammed fundraising schedule and an impressive array of other surrogates are also lending their names to the cash cause.

Caroline Kennedy is crisscrossing the country this month headlining events from California to Connecticut. Former Vice President Al Gore and actress Gwyneth Paltrow will be hitting up Americans abroad at two London affairs.

Although some of Hillary Clinton’s big fundraisers haven’t joined Obama’s campaign - and some haven’t been heavily courted to join - the senator herself is the main draw for a New York event. And the recently reached détente between the Obama camp and former President Bill Clinton’s circle undoubtedly adds another major player to the effort.

But even with all that star power, Obama has taken on a extraordinary burden that is complicated by his unprecedented ground game strategy for the fall and the late close to the primary season.

In July, Obama spent $57 million - more than any prior month and more than the $51 million he collected that month. A large chunk of that cash went to the salaries of his expanding field operation.

His expenses for August were a bit higher because of the extensive advertising he aired that month - including a run of commercials during NBC’s broadcast of the Beijing Olympics.

The lengthy primary robbed Obama of a chance to save some money by engaging in coordinated campaign activities, such as sharing office costs and doing joint mailings with other Democratic candidates running for federal and state offices. In New Hampshire, for instance, the Obama campaign had to lease its own headquarters in Manchester because the already-established coordinated campaign headquarters didn’t have enough room for the newcomers.

In contrast, McCain has had months to lay the groundwork for a fully coordinated effort between his Virginia operations and the RNC.

Unlike Obama, McCain decided to accept public financing for the general election leg of the 2008 race. That means he and Palin can’t raise any private funds for their campaign.

The running mates can still raise money for the RNC, which can pay for their team’s ground game operations and run advertising on behalf of the ticket.

The RNC, a fundraising powerhouse in its own right, was already becoming competitive with Obama’s operation. The RNC’s cash on hand at the end of August was $75 million.

Palin has injected a new energy in givers, particularly small donors. The day that her selection was announced, the RNC received $1 million in Internet donations - a record for the organization.

“The surge you are seeing in our crowds and in volunteering is matched in our fundraising,” said Alex Conant, an RNC spokesman.

And Palin is expected to be dispatched soon to the fundraising circuit, where her star status could loosen the wallets of both big and small donors, much like Obama has done.

Meanwhile, McCain will have the luxury of spending most of his time with voters.

[dante805]

And you fools still believe the GOP is the party of the rich? These are not millions of small donors but BIG Trial Lawyers, Hollywood actors and producers, Union bosses, and corporate CEOs. Obama is the elitst Trial Lawyer from Harvard. Cactus John is the down-to-earth Maverick who is sticking to his word about PUBLIC financing, unlike Obama the liar.

[olandug-2009]

Why is the media so bias towards Obama?
There is something very wrong in our society when the media selects a candidate as a favorite.
Have we not learned from history where such blind worship leads?
The dictators Hitler, Mussolini, Kim Jong Il all began as a cult of personality worship. The media for these dictators were slanted during their rise and then controlled after they assumed power. Obama is clearly following the same pattern.
Obama and his wife have a horrendous history of evil and whenever facts of Obama%u2019s infamous life is mentioned, the press ignores it. But for Hillary, McCain or Palin, if they so much as sneeze, they are mercilessly taken thought the ringer and insulted by the press relentlessly.
Is this because we are afraid to criticize an African American or because some powers above are manipulating the media?

[karronna]

nothing like having your facts straight john43218...is it $600 or $600k....

Sounds like maybe you could use a refresher in either typing or Econ 101 (like Gov Palin who took a town of approx 5,000 with zero debt to almost 30 million in debt despite raising taxes 33% and borrowing $27 million in federal funds).

[raviandsonia]

You can argue over finances all you want.... BUT..

Pray that your sister or daughter never gets raped by someone.
And God forbid that that someone is a part of your family.
Still, if it did happen.....pray even harder that she does not get pregnant.
Because if she does, she''d have no choice but to keep the baby.

That sound fair to you?
That sound logical to you?
That sound American to you?

It should. It is the position of the McCain/Palin ticket.

[lj329]

As one of the 2.5 million "regular folks" who donate to Sen. Obama''s inspiring campaign, I am proud of our work and of our nominees! I plan to keep giving "until it hurts" as we like to say - because this election is too important to our country and our future. In fact, I''ve organized a fund raising event in my community with the help of the Obama website. It''s easy and fun to do. Yes We Can!

[davejr99]

I see some folks here who seem to be blinded by the facts. The guy who grew up partly on welfare is the elitist, yet the guy who has so many homes he cannot even count, is the down to earth one. I guess the 2.5 million donors are not US Citizens, which as I understand it, is the public.

The last time I check Goldman Sachs did not give Obama anything, but each person that works there are independent enough to give to who ever they choose, ***, what a thing as having a choice!

I guess OLANDUG please take the time and add some objective news sources to your reading list.

[LOWELL1966]

We (the american public) are going to get what we deserve. A 72 year old man in poor health and a reborn kristian kook as his vp. putting the final nails in the coffin of the american century. the babyboomers have destroyed america and american education so we are now a very stupid small minded disaffect backwater.
babyboomers = the worst generation

[antoniof123]

Posted by olandug at 11:28 AM : Sep 15, 2008

Sources of course not this is pundit 101 say it long and hard enough and people will beleive it. That day is come and gone we are not listening to pundits this election we are listening to what the canidates are campable of and John McCain has said the economy is not his strong suit and then he also said the economy is strong.

What world are you and him living in?

[themagic07]

WOOWWW....The con artist needs more cash...tel him to get more cash from his friend REZKO and his uncle Rev. Wright.

WAKE UP AMERICANS....Please don''t be fooled.

[wadepoli122]

Why does the Democrats don''t attack McCain for using TAX PAYERS MONEY to fund his election. For some guy who says he will put the people''s money to good use, he is surely contradicting himself, when he use millions of dollars in funds from hard working American to run election. Obama funds come from his supporters, McCain come from the people''s pocket.

[drputt45]

Hey Al (Mr. Green Jeans?), stay home, you''re burning fossil fuels!

[formyteens]

For my teens, I will gladly donate to Barack Obama.

For my teens, I will insist on truth, not deceit, in elected officials.

For my teens and the poor and middle class, I will work harder, and am willing to pay more taxes.

For America, Obama/Biden ''08

[notblue]

rafterman, how do you explain the polls? If the Repubs have destroyed the country over the last eight years as you and other Dems would claim, and Obama has raised more moneythan any other cadidate in US history why is Obama and Biden tied over even behind in some polls. Explain that!

[dysmn]

I have never donated to any campaign in my life until yesterday when I donated to Obama/Biden ''08.

[barrylies]

Ouch!!

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09152008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/obama_tried_to_stall_gis_iraq_withdrawal_129150.htm

[gretagreen]

Hey there, For My Teens!
You''re right. I''m going to donate today to Obama for my teens too. I love my kids too much to risk the possibility of a McCain-Palin presidency.

Thanks for the inspiration!

[demwatcher]

LIBERALS - Poster children for the phrase:

A Fool and His Money are Soon Parted.

[notblue]

Rafterman, the polls only matteer to you people when it is in your favor. THe point you so purposely ignore is why isn''t the messiah leading by WIDE margins?????

[demwatcher]

- OBAMA -

The most expensive bumper-sticker in the world!

[paris1969]

If it takes $200-million for a candidate to get elected ... he is not the right candidate!
McCain-Palin ''08
Hillary 2012!

[demwatcher]

"===LIBERALS - Poster children for the phrase:

A Fool and His Money are Soon Parted.===
Posted by DemWatcher

CONSERVATIVES - Poster children for the phrase:

A Fool.



Posted by rafterman1 at 01:08 PM : Sep 15, 2008"

LAME, HAHA, gotta copy what you admire.

[xlib]

Here''s a thought, maybe the messiah should take biden''s private jet away from him. Say, where is biden??? His little gaffe in Missouri where he asked the state senator, Chuck Graham, to stand and take a bow. Only problem is, THE GUY IS IN A WHEELCHAIR!! Yep, good choice there messiah.

[newz4i]

"McCain decided to accept public financing for the general election leg of the 2008 race."

Tax payers are funding the McCain/Palin ticket.

I was a Hillary supporter not inclined to contribute to Obama, but with all of McCains''s sleaze, I plan to give the Obama campaign.

[notblue]

rafterman, I reads your posts numerous tiems over the last couple of years and you libs like to spew the tired line of how America is fed up and how the majority of Americans represent your liberal views now your telling me America is evenly divided. How convenient.

[sueann702]

GOP will use fear mongering to win votes, that''s all they have left. They cant say economy or energy because look at us now and now even Karl admitted they have to lie just to win. The gap with the world is now closer thanks to that idiot G.W who lied to you all for the last 8 years. We need to take our country back.
Obama/McCain 08

[sharon31--2008]

More Money!!! What???? Give me a Break, What is he doing with all this Money??? If he can''t survive on what he has already gone thru he doesn''t need to run the country. I guess he is getting used to the "Oprah" Lifestyle.. Middle Class he''s not!! Maybe he needs Huckabee to give him a few tips on how to CONSERVE!

[moriah8]

If he cant even budget well in his campaign, how could anyone think he can manage finances well if he were to become president?

[newz4i]

Posted by jaxsterling5 at 01:28 PM - The GOP candidates are using lies and fear to elect their candidate as president/vice president. It''s amazing to me the party of church goers are falling for it.

What would it take to have GOPers sit down and talk to their priest/minister/elder instead of worshiping an ad of lies?

[despido]

Yes, Obama NEEDS more cash, Obama NEEDS more taxes, Obama NEEDS more control. Hey people - you NEED to beware.

When the media appointed themselves the fourth branch of government, the entire system went to hell in a handbasket. In every election, we hear "Are you better off now than 4 years ago?" The answer is always "No". See a trend here? It makes no difference whether its Republican or Democrat - we can''t seem to select real leaders because the media chooses for us. We WILL be worse off 4 years from now - count on it.

[newz4i]

Remember it was Bush I and II who walk up, hold hands and kiss the king of Muslims, King Abdullah of Saudia Arabia.

Four more years of kissing Muslim Kings for oil is not what this country needs.

[rational_1]

CALLING ALL HAMAS AGENTS - OBAMA NEEDS FUNDS!!!!

CALLING ALL MUSLIM RICH OIL SHEIKS - OBAMA NEEDS FUNDS

CALLING ALL BERLIN, GERMANY CITIZENS - OBAMA NEEDS FUNDS.
Posted by jaxsterling5 at 01:52 PM : Sep 15, 2008

You forgot Hollywood ''celebrities'' and Afghani cave-dwellers with pipe bombs. LOL

If I am reading this article correctly, it''s not about the person being able to lead this country in a way that would put us in the lead as a country to be trusted, but how much money they can raise in the process before the election. It''s all about money and not the person? I''ll just put myself on the ticket, and I am just like America....over extended in everything and broke.

[jmurrieta11]

Shortage of funds from fat cat corporate donors has always been easy for Republicans to raise, given how the Repugs always favor the billionaire financial elite over the average American.

The real news of this election is the unprecedented grass roots support that Obama has enjoyed, and the large sums he has raised and has continued to raise throughout the campaign.

Rupert Murdoch can give millions, but he has only one vote.

That is going to be a big problem for the U.S. Fascist Party, John McClone, and his Bush Baby VP.

[jmurrieta11]

In an interview with Bloomberg Television Friday, Greenspan said the nation could not afford 3.3 trillion dollars of tax cuts proposed by McCain without matching cuts in spending.

Greenspan, a long-time friend of McCain and a Republican, said about the Arizona senator''s plans to extend massive tax cuts imposed by President George W. Bush: "I''m not in favor of financing tax cuts with borrowed money."

[walker1209]

I am a Black Woman, 59 years old, working/middle class citizen, educated, a person of faith (who by the way believes that people can worship or not worship anyway they choose), I have voted for the Democrat running for POTUS since 1973. That has changed for me this election season. With the crappy treatment of Senator Clinton by the DNC and the Party, and the way some Blacks twisted every word uttered by both Senator Clinton and former President Clinton, I became thoroughly disgusted by the whole process. Not everyone who hasn''t been swept away by the Obama campaign is Racist or uninformed. It takes more than inspiring speeches and rhetoric to get my vote. He may be a very bright young man, but he is definitely not ready for prime time.

The fact is that the economy is in the toilet, the infrastructure is crumbling, some public schools are failing, we have health care issues, umemployment at 6%, government bailouts all over the place, and these are just some of the domestic issues. If these are things that the Dems are supposed to excell at why is this election even close?

Of course there is racism in this country; but this is not the only reason some people will not vote for the Obama/Biden ticket - some people are just not buying what they are selling. The Dems need to ask themselves why there have only been to DEM presidents in 40 years and stop the whining and all the nonsense!

[jmurrieta11]

The economy''s in the toilet, McCain knows nothing, nothing about economics, and whom does he choose for VP?

A know-nothing from the welfare state of Alaska.

Not Condie Rice (an insult to women).

Not Mitt Romney (an insult to LDS church members).

But a know-nothing.

Dumb, or what.

[pmsnbc1]

94 times nobama had the chance to vote for tax decreases or to not increase taxes

94 tmes nobama voted to increase taxes or not decrease them.

nobama is 94 out of 94 in voting for MORE TAXES

Now he claims to want to reduce taxes.

CHANGE WE DON''T NEED!

[fstormeyone]

read my name stomeyone then u''ll understand my reply that goes for u too gun_tower

[magoo2u1]

94 times nobama had the chance to vote for tax decreases or to not increase taxes
94 tmes nobama voted to increase taxes or not decrease them.
nobama is 94 out of 94 in voting for MORE TAXES
Now he claims to want to reduce taxes.

10 TRILLION IN DEBT. I''m telling you now: VOTE REPUBLICAN. Spend and BORROW beats the heck out paying cash as we go. TAX and SPEND. Love that term used as a negative. No system should work that way. Collect money, then use it. SOB''s. Who can run a house or country that way- spend money you have. CREEPS. Spend and borrow , spend and borrow, spend and borrow, spend and borrow. Communists! tax us and spend the money collected for silly *** like keeping asbestos out of children''s toys. Coal mine safety, roads, bridges, food stamps for poor people.
I''d rather borrow 20 billion and prop up a big bank.

[hungry1968]

By the way did you know Factcheck.org is owned by Annenberg Foundation. And yes both Obama and Terrorist Bill Ayers worked on the Annenberg Foundation in Chicago.

Posted by jaxsterling5 at 03:06 PM : Sep 15, 2008





Really?

That''s AMAZING!!

Especially since the Annenberg Foundation DOESN''T EVEN HAVE AN OFFICE IN CHICAGO!!

Liar.

[hungry1968]

Last week, the Atlas Shrugs blog outlined a series of donations in 2007 made to Obama''''s campaign from two individuals, Monir Edwan and Hosam Edwan, totaling $29,521.54.

In an online form on Obama''''s campaign site, the Edwans listed their street as "Tal Esaltan," which they wrote was located in "Rafah, GA."


The Edwans'''' donations are listed in both FEC filings and other election filing sites, such as CampaignMoney and donordata.org.


Posted by jaxsterling5 at 03:11 PM : Sep 15, 2008





Why don''t you post the link(s) to the ACTUAL FEC pages, instead of privately created web pages that can be manipulated by anyone with an agenda?

[hungry1968]

Why arent Obama Democrats required to disclose their donations from NAMBLA?


Posted by Negro-Vote at 03:17 PM : Sep 15, 2008




I wouldn''t think that Ted Haggart, Mark Foley, or the scummmbag republicans in the El Dorado compound would donate to democratic candidates, would they?

[retrovvvisio]

Yeah.... Obama doesn''t know what''s enough!!! Take take gimme gimme mentality. He got very rich from the african american donations - he boasts to have $77 million cash (plus the rest) but Hussein Obama wants to rake in MORE, he is ASKING FOR MORE from the STUPID PEOPLE who still blindly support him.... because there won''t be a presidency for Hussein Obama, and he knows it. But all is not lost, he wants to be rich like Cresus at the end of the campaign. Wake up people!!!!

[yeswecan09]

My favorite section of this article is this:

"Finally, McCain-friendly outside groups already are mobilizing and launching independent attack ads on the Illinois senator. Meanwhile, Obama has sent word to the Democratic community that he wouldn''t welcome similar independent groups working on his behalf - essentially sidelining what could have been critical allies."

McCain is using Swiftboats and is doing nothing to stop them while Obama said he does not want to use Swiftboats.

Obama is the class act here; and he is going to win because of it.

[hungry1968]

Posted by hungry1968 at 03:19 PM

In your opinion, every webpage that doesn''''t fit your liberal agenda and radical views is a " privately created web page ".....

So, how''''s it feel to be behind in the polls and broke-a$$ ?.....LOL !!!

Posted by JoeCoolSwat1 at 03:20 PM : Sep 15, 2008





Because you brainless twit, ANYONE can create a web page - I used to have one several years ago, and I could put ANYTHING on there, as long as it wasn''t illegal.

This clown says that the "donor data" website uses data taken DIRECTLY from the FEC website, but the FEC has NO pages that list donor data, at least that I can find.

So basically, I''m challenging him to back up his lies - just like I did to you earlier, and which you, ALSO, failed to do.

[txdemwc]

I have $1200 left before I reach the 4600 contribution limit. I will send that in today to max out (vacation canceled due to hurricane Ike). Understand that Obama''s supporters want a Democrat in the White House more than almost anything. It is very personal for most of us. I have supported Senator Obama since January of last year. Contributions are an investment. Given this economy many of us will need a guarantee of healthcare for ourselves and our children. Call it socialism if you want but Jesus Christ didn''t ask for payment when someone was sick.

[jgg000]

Will McLame let redneck Levi and underage wife Bristol live in one his 7 houses?

Posted by jh6379

sure beats livin in a hut, no?

[retrovvvisio]

heyobamabiden4y:
Until you open your little eyes to see the world as it is = that there are more than just 18 to 30 year olds on this planet with personal needs different to yours... you will be a loser. Why? because ultimately for things to work, you have to consider and accept everything that you can''t wish away.
There is real life outside cyberspace.

[jgg000]

1. Obama undestands foreign Policy, he even has a dual citizenship.

if this is true, he''s not allowed to be president. If you''re an Obama supporter, you might not want to be spreading this