As of 4/19/04 W has spent OVER HALF his campaign funds

[underpants]

And this thread in LBN says even Fox's pollster Rasmussen has them tied at 45%.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-04-19-bush-campaign-spending_x.htm

Posted 4/19/2004 8:54 PM

Bush's campaign spending rises to a hefty $98M
By Jim Drinkard and Judy Keen, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — President Bush has spent $98 million in his re-election campaign, nearly as much as he spent to win the Republican nomination four years ago.

In a report to be filed with the Federal Election Commission today, Bush discloses that he raised $184.4 million by the end of March, and his campaign had $86.6 million in the bank.

[Arkana]

1. Meh

Don't cry for Shrub. He'll just have Poppy shake down some more oil companies.

But the fact that he's practically thrown away all this money and still has not managed any kind of a lead in the polls is something to think about.

[central scrutinizer]

9. that's exactly right

Look at the incredible return on investment that they get by having the Repukes in office. Dump a million into *'s campaign and get awarded a billion dollar no-bid, no-oversight contract.

[underpants]

12. If I remember correctly his top 10 contributors had a 386% return

during just his first 6 months "in office". That was directly due to executive orders and some bills they ran through (including the original tax cut) during the "honeymoon period" which he was allowed to enjoy.

[rucky]

2. Rope A Dope!

I predict Bush & Kerry will be even by the time the conventions are over.

Kerry should get a new wave of fundraising after he announces his VP.

:)

[kcwayne]

3. Don't be deluded into thinking that there is an end to the money supply

It doesn't matter how much he has spent. If they run low, they'll get more.

[underpants]

8. Oh I know but the sheer amount is pretty amazing

and apparently nothing to show for it. Actually though his approval rating "rose" to 48% he is way down over the last 6 months.

[sniffa]

4. wonderfuL

now keep an eye out on any new approved funds for iraq, and where that money goes.

[Beetwasher]

5. Spending Like Drunken Sailors

They do that alot, of course, with OTHER people's money...

[underpants]

10. I prefer "Spending it like a teenage arab"

I heard that on the Simpsons once and given that W is basically a son of the House of Saud it applies.

I hope that doesn't offend anyone but I am sure it will.

[Beetwasher]

20. How Dare You!

I'm offended! ;-)

There, that should cover it!

[redqueen]

6. Beauty!

Thanks so much for posting this!!!!

[truebrit71]

14. Totally off -topic...Where did you get that Button?

..It is excellent and I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one....

[cjbuchanan]

7. What sucks

Is he still has more money then Kerry.

I guess we should all dig down again and donate another $10-20.

https://contribute2.johnkerry.com/index.html?source_code=00015581

Still, it's fun to see Bush piss away his money. The shame is that he is doing the same thing with our government that he is doing with his campaign.

[proud patriot]

11. :-)

:-) every cent spent is like finger nails on the chalkboard
my curse on the bush campaign.

[RobertSeattle]

13. And according to "journalist" O'Reilly

...Kerry and Bush have raised the same amount of campaign money "It's a wash". (Give or take 100 million dollars Bill).

[proud patriot]

15. Also from article Kerry out raised bush in March

hee hee

[lovedems]

16. What is funny about that is he has spent all this money just to maintain

his meager 3 point lead over Kerry and it doesn't seem to have a lasting effect. It works for a week and then he sinks again. He will dump more money for ads and it will work short term and then he sinks.

Just another example of the short-sightedness of these cons.

[havocmom]

17. He still has some natural resources to spend

Like the water in the upper Missouri River being released faster than nature is refilling reservoirs so he can try to buy support in state of MO.

<snip> Johnson {Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D.} blamed President Bush for blocking efforts to help upstream states. He said the Corps of Engineers plan appears to be an effort to win votes for President Bush. While the upstream states are expected to vote for Bush, Missouri remains up for grabs.
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/04/28/build/state/30-baucus-fortpeck.inc">Efforts to slow the flow

Yep, don't worry about him running out of $$$, he still has what remains of America the beautiful to squander. There are forests yet to turn over, land to dig in, coastal waters to foul with drilling... He will find ways to supplement his war chest.

[catmandu57]

22. He's made more enemies than friends around

this part of MO. Everytime I see the chimp strutting I change the channel, so that money is shot. Keep spending georgie*, I hear more people here cussing him every day and many non voters registering for the first time just to show their displeasure.

[smirkymonkey]

18. Does anyone else think that this plays into Kerry's strategy?

W pisses through most of his campaign $$ before the summer is over and then Kerry whips out the big guns at the end, counting on the voting public's short memory.

Remember the primary. I still think Kerry will pull out all the stops on the home stretch.

[Failure]

19. spends his campaign money like our tax dollars. n./t

[markdd]

21. Money Guidelines?

Umm, I thought if they accepted the federal funding, that they were limited to something like $150MM before the conventions and a similar amount afterwards. Since neither one has accepted the funding, I guess total limits are off. The only limit is the $2,000 per contributor.

I think the most important point is that Bush* has burned through a lot of money for no real improvement in the polls, not that he's spent half of his money.

A nearly as importat point is that despite the networks (2-3 to 1 coverage time) and the taxpayers (free travel) subsidizing his efforts he's not gaining traction outside the base.

[underpants]

23. I wonder what the actual costs/expenses are

I know that Clinton was accused of using Air Force One for flights to fund raisers (gee ya don't hear that charge towards W) but Clinton didn't invite (that I know of) himself to the Daytona 500 or the MLK birthday event. Figure those expenses alone into the total.