Campaign payrolls in the early states

[draft_mario_cuomo]

This provides insight into the strategies of the campaigns, who is pouring the most money in particular states (since we don't have the overall numbers for New Hampshire and Nevada), etc. The numbers are all for the second quarter.

Iowa

Obama $910,000
Clinton $431,000
Edwards $333,000
Dodd $101,000
Richardson $96,000
Biden $58,000

Overall, Obama spent $2.2 million in Iowa, Clinton about $800,000, and Edwards roughly $500,000. Obama has 28 offices in Iowa, Clinton 15, and Edwards 14. The Obama campaign has a full-court press in Iowa, although this is to be expected since Obama is doing much better in New Hampshire and South Carolina than Iowa. A poor finish in Iowa would have him stumbling into Nevada and New Hampshire. The campaign, as Axlerod has said, views it as a must win and its wallet backs that up.

New Hampshire

Obama $391,000
Clinton $193,000
Edwards $107,000
Dodd $62,000
Richardson $17,000
Biden $12,000

Overall, Obama spent $1 million in New Hampshire. The figures for Clinton and Edwards were not mentioned, although you can assume they spent considerably less given that Obama spent twice as much on staff as Clinton and four times as much as Edwards.

South Carolina

Obama $150,000
Richardson $52,000
Clinton $38,000
Biden $29,000
Edwards $11,000
Dodd $2,000

Overall, Obama spent about $500,000 in SC, Edwards roughly $220,000, and Clinton $120,000 (the overall numbers for the other candidates were not mentioned). What is interesting is what the staff numbers tell us. Richardson is a surprising second. You would think he would not emphasize this state, since he barely registers in South Carolina polls. We may see Richardson move up in SC like he has in Iowa and New Hampshire. Biden seems to be banking on South Carolina as his breakout early state. Clinton spent a healthy amount, although Obama's lavish spending makes her total look like peanuts. Clinton may have calculated that she is so strong in SC that she can win there without spending a lot of money. Edwards seems to be relying on success in the three states that vote before SC to catapult him in SC, perhaps recognizing that unless that happens his chances are not great in SC, given that over of 90% of the African-American vote is going to Clinton and Obama right now.

Nevada

Clinton $124,000
Richardson $120,000
Obama $105,000
Edwards $67,000
Dodd $20,000
Biden $17,000

Richardson's total is not surprising. Nevada is his best opportunity to record an early win. He has the regional advantage there and a substantial portion of the Nevada electorate is Hispanic. Obama's figure is also interesting. He has showered money in the other states but here he ranks third. It seems the Obama campaign either does not believe it has a great chance of winning in Nevada or is calculating that Nevada simply will not matter much, as the focus of the press will largely be on New Hampshire during the interval between Iowa and Nevada. Moreover, Nevada votes only two days prior to New Hampshire. Momentum from a Nevada win may have only a minimal impact in New Hampshire. However, the risk is that if the same candidate wins Iowa and Nevada that would create a strong gust of momentum for that candidate heading into New Hampshire. Edwards, given his spending relative to Obama in the other early states, seems to be placing significant emphasis on Nevada. This is not surprising, though, given the influence unions have in Nevada and the Edwards campaign's strategy of relying on early state momentum.

Source: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/staffer-pay-reveals-08-dem-focus-2007-07-18.html

[napi21]

1. Interesting. n/t

[jillan]

2. What a f*cking waste of money!

Just imagine if all that money was put together how many things could get done?

Feeding the poor with that cash would be a good start.

This is insanity.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. this money doesn't go into a hole

it hires people, who feed their families. Organizers, secretaries, researchers, etc. etc.

It goes to people who run print shops, radio stations, etc. etc.

It's not like the money is taken out of the economy.

[Dawgs]

4. Yeah, were do think this money goes?

First of all, this is like pennies compared to the BILLIONS that are spent in Iraq. Why not focus on that, before attacking people that are spending money in our economy.

Second, this money goes to regular people working in America.

[jillan]

6. You guys have a good point.

I guess what I should have said was that I really wish we had Public Financing of elections,

and that it is too bad that our candidates have to raise so much $$$, because it could keep
alot of great people away from running.

[Karmadillo]

5. Thanks for posting this. Gives some context to the state poll results.

nt

[draft_mario_cuomo]

8. Thanks nt

[Cameron27]

7. I didn't realize Obama was spending so much more

than the rest. Interesting.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

9. Me too, aside from in Iowa. It makes you look at the early state polls in a completely different way