255,000 Obama donors didn't buy a single item (debunks t-shirt smear)

[geek tragedy]

This should drive a nail through the Hillary/MSM conspiracy theory du jour.

Obama spokesman Dan Pfeiffer says that people buying campaign paraphernalia (mostly t-shirts) account for "less than 1% of our donors"--or 2,580 out of the total donor base of 258,000. He also contends that more than half of those who bought items like t-shirts (which puts you on their e-mail list) subsequently gave to the campaign in the traditional way.

And why does Obama count his merchandise purchasers but while Hillary et al don't?

These purchasers are donors, and the law requires that we treat them as donors, which is indeed what they are and how their monies are used. There is no "trick" involved. People who support Obama would like something to show their support, a hat or T-shirt: this is a way that small donors in particular can show their support and still contribute to the campaign. Most of these donors have contributed again…and again. We are proud to have them. Campaigns that don't expect to have this level of interest among small donors tend to outsource their campaign material sales to vendors. For example, the Clinton campaign has contracted with Financial Innovations to sell their paraphernalia. Financial Innovations makes all of the profit from those sales and takes the loss if no one buys the materials. To our knowledge, the Obama Campaign, because of the tremendous grassroots enthusiasm, is the only campaign to feel they could generate sufficient interest in T-shirts and other materials to not contract with an outside vendor.

http://time-blog.com/swampland/2007/07/who_are_you_wearing_barack_oba.html

Facts are stubborn things, I know.

[sandnsea]

1. Aaaah, I see

Yes it is true that most campaigns contract their materials. If the Obama campaign isn't doing that, then I can see the reason for reporting the contributions with the material given as a token. Makes perfect sense to me.

Is also the most ridiculous "scandal" the Hillary campaign has come up with yet, and just another reason I wish the lot of them would retire from politics. I'm sick of it.

[geek tragedy]

2. You couldn't pay me to walk around town in a cheesy

Clinton t-shirt.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

3. There is a lot of quibbling about numbers. The fact is BO has by far the most contributors

I read that he netted about 40,000 donors from his $5-10 college events. That was cited as evidence of him inflating his donor numbers. Well, even despite that, had 210,000 other donors! That dwarfs the rest. Edwards had over 100,000, Richardson 38,000, and we still have not heard how many donors HRC has had thus far...

[geek tragedy]

4. Exactly--thank you for being fair on this point.

I think Edwards is doing the same thing--Small Change for Big Change or something like that, right?

It shows that those two care about the small donor. Hillary? Notsomuch.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

7. Yes, and he got about 4,000 donors from that

Hey, I can be fair more often than some give me credit for. ;)

[illinoisprogressive]

5. CNN said the others are doing a whisper campaign. Jealous from not thinking of it.

[geek tragedy]

6. Sour grapes from Hillary. Enthusiasm gap is gonna

hurt her in Iowa.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

8. Obama's lead in fund-raising will only expand because of this

As I showed yesterday, they are about even among big donors. Where Obama is getting the advantage is that he is beating HRC by 4-to-1 among small donors (those giving $200 or less). HRC is more reliant on big donors and as they max out the fund-raising gulf will only grow unless HRC starts to expand her donor base.

As far as her chances in Iowa, Dean had the most money, most donors, and most enthusiasm and he finished a distant 3rd. HRC has enough money to compete, a large base of support, and should be a force to reckon with throughout the primaries.

[geek tragedy]

9. Obama has a much better infrastructure in Iowa.

He has 28 field offices--almost twice as many as Hillary or Edwards.

That's what should really scare Hillary--he's not going to blow his money on TV like Trippi had Dean do. He's putting it into field offices in Iowa.

Don't forget that Iowa is next door to a certain Midwestern state . . .

[draft_mario_cuomo]

17. Exactly, and part of IA shares a media market with Il. Yet, BO has never led in Iowa

Obama seems to have a fundamental weakness in Iowa and is only 5 points ahead of 4th place Richardson. Money cannot buy votes. Dean showed this last time and Obama is proving it again in Iowa. I think Obama's best bet would be to focus more on NH, where he is much more competitive. He is a solid 2nd there and within striking distance of HRC. For some reason, he has never gained much traction in Iowa, though.

As far as infrastructure goes, Gephardt had a great infrastructure in Iowa too. I think Obama will finish 3rd or 4th in Iowa. He needs to avoid 4th. 4th would really damage him heading into NV and NH.

[Alamom]

10. Pssst...She didn't have anything to do with this. The MSM reported it. nt

[Ethelk2044]

12. and the MSM thought people could not read and realize the bulk

of his donors were not from buying merchandise. It is from people who are actually contributing to his campaign.

[maximusveritas]

13. But where'd they get it from? Who's doing the whisper campaign?

Hillary is the obvious suspect, but it's possible she's innocent on this one. I'd love to find out who's behind it.

[dionysus]

22. um... your little crew is the one shouting it from the rooftops...

[rinsd]

23. So what do Clinton supporters on DU have to do with the campaign?

:shrug:

[TeamJordan23]

11. How many donors did Hillary and Edwards have - did we get final numbers? nm

[MissWaverly]

14. Does this mean I am not a loyal DU fan becuz of bumper sticker

Gasp, sob. I only donate for the bumper stickers, (sarcasm on)

:-(

[geek tragedy]

15. At least you don't own a damn DU

t-shirt. That would prove you're not a real supporter.

[MissWaverly]

16. Oh, what a relief

you have to watch out for those t-shirts!

:-)

[Colobo]

18. A donor that hasn't bought anything yet: Me.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

19. I've donated

and also bought an Obama pin at a rally a few weeks back. I had to write my name down for the pin, I assume they listed me as a donor. I do wonder if I was counted twice...

Too bad I can't vote for him twice too...;-)

[rinsd]

20. Except Obama is also using an outside vendor. They paid them about $250K in the 1st Q.

They are just collecting the profits. And unless those roughly 2500 or so merchandise only purchasers bought at least $20 in goods they are losing money on it. (assuming the expediture for the items is the same)

Here's who runs Obama's store

Before Democrats can effect change in office, they have to win. That’s where we come in…Tigereye Design is one of America’s leading manufacturers and distributors of Democratic campaign products. We are a Union company (proud members of United Steelworkers Local 3210) that exclusively serves Democratic campaigns, progressive organizations, and labor unions.

Democrats nationwide know Tigereye Design provides the highest quality merchandise faster than anyone else in the country. We have supplied every Democratic presidential campaign and Democratic National Convention since 1980, and thousands of Democratic campaigns and organizations in all 50 states. In 2006 alone, we supplied over 100 federal and state Democratic campaigns!

Tigereye Design is committed to helping Democrats at every level. Our staff consultants have experience where it counts, including campaign management, state party administration, field strategy, fundraising, outreach, and creative communications. From retail solutions to last minute event needs, Tigereye Design has the tools to help Democrats win.

Here's Obama expenditures for the 1St Q for campaign materials.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/expend_detail.asp?ID=N00009638&cycle=2008&code=C10&Page=2

I didn't think this was inflationary and stated that there were likely a few thousand at most that were pure merchandise purchasers.

I just thought it was foolish PR move.

[dionysus]

21. are you lettings facts get in the way of their orgy of faux outrage??

[AtomicKitten]

24. BFD

n/t