The Campaign Spending and Money Strategies Thread

[andino]

Hello DUers

First off I would like to say that I am glad I found this place. I haven't been here long but you guys have really made me feel at home.

Second, I would like to open a discussion on how the two candidates are spending their money and what has come from it.

I know that many of you don't like CNN and I am somewhat sorry that I have to use them as a source but unfortunately, they have a really good site that shows the candidates spending.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/fec/total.spent.html">http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/fec/total.spent.html

When looking at this site you will notice that Bush has almost hit the $100 million dollar mark in money spent. Kerry has spent $53 million. It seems to me that Bush is spending like a drunken sailor when it comes to his campaign and it has only marginally helped him in the polls.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/fec/index.cash.html">http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/fec/index.cash.html

This link shows the Cash on hand. Bush is at $86 million and Kerry is at $31 million.

This is leading up to something so stick with me here....

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/fec/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/fec/index.html

This last link shows how much money was raised in March 2004.
Kerry raised $44 million and Bush raised $26 million.


Now, given this information, who here thinks that Bush will run out of money before September? And if so what tactics will he use to save his campaign money? It is obvious that he will not attempt another press conference/speech because of his inability to articulate a single original sentence. What else could he do?

Last but not least, does anyone think that Kerry will actually catch up to the bush/cheney campaign machine?

EDIT:

I found this information on Bush's spending.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/fec/index.bush.new.html">http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/fec/index.bush.new.html
QUOTE:
2004
March: $49,673,371.30
February: $8,174,913.75
January: $7,559,229.04

[tritsofme]

1. He only needs that money till August,

then we give him $90 million to play with after his convention.

Kerry gets his public money earlier because our convention is in July. So * will have more time with the publically financed money.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. Welcome, andino! Interesting article from yesterday --

LA Times:

(Shareholder) Activists Target (corporate) Political Gifts

Dozens of companies face shareholder resolutions calling for more-detailed accounts of donations.

By Jonathan Peterson, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — In an election-year burst of activism, shareholders have targeted dozens of companies with resolutions urging that they provide enhanced, easily accessible details of all their political donations.

The appeals, aimed at a broad cross-section of corporate America, have hit a responsive chord with some investors and may be gaining momentum. At its annual meeting last week, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. said it would post a detailed report of its political activities on its website annually in response to the shareholders' call.

"The fact that it got Pfizer to change its policy and announce that at the annual meeting — that was a major victory," said Caroline Williams, chief financial and investment officer at the Nathan Cummings Foundation, a nonprofit that describes itself as promoting social and economic justice. The foundation sponsored the Pfizer resolution, and Williams said she looked forward to using Pfizer's announcement as leverage this week when a similar proposal is made at the Merck & Co. annual meeting....

***

The effort is being spearheaded by union pension funds, socially conscious investment funds and other groups typically associated with left-leaning causes. The corporate donors they target often are conservative and are actively involved in political finance....

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-activists26apr26,1,6428402.story?coll=la-home-business