Obama Steps Up Push for Big Donors; "Small-donor network is showing signs of fatigue."

[DeepModem Mom]

WSJ: Democrat Steps Up Push for Big Donors
By CHRISTOPHER COOPER
June 26, 2008; Page A6

....Sen. Obama's disclosure last week that he will forgo public campaign financing -- and the spending limits that go with it -- appears to be turning his campaign from a reliance on small donors to a well-worn political fund-raising path: the quest for soft money....Like his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain, Sen. Obama has established a joint fund-raising committee with his national party. Such a committee allows him to co-sponsor fund-raising events in which donors can give as much as $28,000 -- the limit they are allowed to give a national party -- coupled with the standard $2,300 anyone can give an individual candidate running for federal office during a single campaign season....

***

Over the two weeks through Thursday, when Sen. Obama is expected to join his former Democratic rival Sen. Hillary Clinton for a high-dollar fund-raiser in Washington, the likely Democratic nominee has ramped up the frequency of his money events to about one every two days. Many are dual events, at which participants can give big donations to the Democratic Party that are expected ultimately to benefit Sen. Obama....

Sen. Obama has said his army of 1.7 million small donors is the essence of what public financing strives to accomplish and is why he opted out of the "broken" system. But his small-donor network is showing signs of fatigue. Federal campaign records show that Sen. Obama's monthly cash take has been falling steadily since hitting a record $55.4 million in February. In March, he raised $41.3 million. The total fell to $30.7 million in April and $21.9 million in May, roughly on par with Sen. McCain's performance.

Wednesday, eight government watchdog groups asked both candidates to voluntarily reveal more information about their donors. There was no response from either campaign.

"As Election Day gets closer, Obama's substantially slower fund-raising pace raises questions about whether the endurance of his vaunted fund-raising machine and its predominantly small donor base are being overestimated by pundits," a recent analysis by the nonpartisan Campaign Finance Institute said....

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121443844647405409-hm9YWPmeRmrMG6o508Ps5TwFNRY_20080726.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

[JoFerret]

1. "Follow the money"

.

[blogslut]

6. seriously

knock.it.off.

[JoFerret]

18. He has to follow the money

It's the only way to win.

[blogslut]

21. uh huh

I'm sure that's what you meant. No, really.

[JoFerret]

40. Has the moon been commodified?

If you would actually like to know what I think about campaign financing the corrosive influence of money on politics, democracy and the farce of campaigning you may send me a message requesting information.
Otherwise keep your nonsense and innuendo in your endo.

[foo_bar]

58. what was Deep Throat's catchphrase in "All The President's Men", Alex?

Deep Throat: Follow the money. Always follow the money.
Woodward: What do you mean? Where?
Deep Throat: Oh, I can't tell you that.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/All_the_President%27s_Men

[peace13]

2. I think the small donor campaign can carry him through the

'Swiftboats'. I think he needs to reach out to new supporters. He is focusing on Hill folk but they are tapped out too. He could stay with the American people if he supported his local staff and volunteers. We are here but we need materials and support from him. Something that was lacking in the primary but will be essential in the GE.

[City Lights]

5. Hey there, peace13! Questions for you...

Have you forwarded your concerns to his local HQ, and if so, what was their response? If you haven't already done so, you might want to give his national HQ a call and voice your concerns. Each time I've called, they've been very responsive.

[peace13]

13. Hi! Yes I have talked with people, written emails and talked with my local reps.

The answer is that they will not have any materiels until the GE begins. That they sell it to us and use the proceeds to support the campaign. This is a serious problem. You know that I have been in the trenches here in Ohio so this in a post to help Obama not push him down. They have got to review their policy. We were told in the primary that yard signs and such do nothing, it is the person to person contact but I know that the contacts that I have made wearing an Obama shirt, button or having abumper sticker encourages dialog that you would not believe. Good to 'see' you. Peace and love, KIm

[City Lights]

20. It is a serious problem.

I don't understand why they're handling things this way. They're missing out on many golden opportunities. Sounds like you're doing all you can. :-) Hopefully, you'll get someone to listen to your concerns. Hang in there! Peace and love back at'cha. :hug:

[qwlauren35]

49. You're right - the paraphernalia makes a huge difference.

But on the other hand, I can also see why they couldn't give it away. There are just too many of us.

I think a better compromise would have been to make it available at cost. Or close to cost.

But again, the risk is that it doesn't sell. And then it's an expense, and possibly an unplanned expense.

When I was campaigning for Dean, I bought bumperstickers from the Dem store. Hundreds. And gave them away. At the time, I had it like that... this time, I think I bought 5 buttons. And gave them away. Couldn't even get an Obama shirt... because I didn't think about going on line. And didn't really have the time - I was too busy campaigning!

So... I understand what you're saying. I made do with the buttons.

[dkf]

3. People need to use their money for gas and food now.

Things have definitely gotten more expensive over the course of the campaign.

[flpoljunkie]

34. I think this definitely plays a part now. People are hurting.

[Catherina]

4. Fatigue? Is that what they're calling it these days?

All the phone calls and letters about a very recent events don't seem to be providing much of a clue. It's not fatigue guys, read your own blog for hints.

[Larkspur]

8. Agree. The Obama campaign needs to delude itself that it betrayed its small donors

with his FISA bill stance.

If Obama mostly relys on Big Donors he'll tap out fast because he is going to burn through a lot of $$ this summer with his ad campaign. He's probably hoping to blitz McCain in the summer and early September and coast through to about 2 weeks before the November elections.

[Catherina]

14. They were counting on small and large donors. They shot themselves in the foot with FISA

It infuriates me that they're ignoring all the "hints" in their voicemail, fax machine, and in the loud blogoshpere including their own blogs.

... now that Obama has decided to sidestep the public financing system (which awards $85 million to party nominees) and raise much more from individual donors.

...

And there's more. Plouffe boasted that Obama's campaign will not have only an edge in volume (more volunteers, more organizers, more door-knocking, more phone-banking, more precinct work, more advertising); it will have an advantage in quality. There's a "persuasion army" working on behalf of Obama, he said. He pointed to polls showing that Obama supporters and Democrats are far more enthusiastic about this election than McCain supporters and Republicans. Consequently, Obama persuaders--supporters who volunteer or merely talk up Obama among friends and relatives--are likely to do a better job than McCain persuaders. This is "a hard thing to quantify," Plouffe remarked. But he added, "we think it means a lot."

It was an impressive performance: more cash, more volunteers, more ads, more opportunities to go on offense, more enthusiasm, more...everything

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6412961

I could scream. Markos, a huge Obama supporter, explained it very clearly here: what are they not getting?

[Beacool]

15. I'm not sure that ad blitzes work.

He was outspending Hillary in PA 3-1 in most markets and it didn't make a blessed difference. Ditto for most other states. Sometimes it's overkill.

[GarbagemanLB]

24. ..and how much did Hillary spend in PA?

You do realize it forces your opponent to spend more as well? Hillary is millions of dollars in debt because of things like PA.

[Beacool]

26. True,

but she still won the state and the majority of the primaries since Feb., and won them all by wide margins except for IN.

Money can do only so much, at a certain point it becomes counterproductive because people start feeling that you're trying to buy their vote.

[AllentownJake]

51. If the polls are to believed

He moved the margin 10 points in PA.

They did several other things wrong during the PA primary as well. I think without the Wright fiasco and Bittergate that month it would hav been within 5 points.

[peace13]

48. Think about that.

It looks like she will get her money. It is the Obama campaign that will suffer from her lack of management. Go figure.

[AllentownJake]

53. Obama won't suffer anything

Essentially what they are doing right now is trading millionaires. My millionaires will help you if your millionaires help me. If anyone is suffering its House and Senate candidates.

[peace13]

60. Hope you are right.

I hate to see Obama selling his soul one principle at a time. First there came FISA. I know that he needs to move more to the middle but I would like to hear right up front what things he refuses to give on in this election. Peace, Kim

[Indenturedebtor]

29. He narrowed the lead considerably in PA n/t

[Beacool]

31. So, what?

He still lost and the GE is winner take all.

[Indenturedebtor]

33. Yes but there are so many states where McBush's lead is a couple of points

If money didn't make a difference in campaigns then it wouldn't be the primary determinant of success in our political system.

How do you think Pukes win exactly? If people carefully reviewed their platforms and considered the implications, pukes would never win. They win with money. They win by smothering the airwaves with talking points presented in 20 second increments.

And you know that.

[AllentownJake]

52. In the GE if he's polling 20 points behind in a state

He isn't going to invest in it the last month of the campaign. He had to make a play in PA because it was the only state voting in 6 weeks.

Comparing Apples to Oranges.

[JoFerret]

19. What a charade all this campaign financing is

And - I don't see when, if ever, it can be fixed.
the last effort was an honorable attempt but...

We should all look to Feingold for direction on next steps.
This is crazy.

[blogslut]

7. There's bound to be a slowing down period

I have faith the small donations will begins to rise after the convention in Denver.

What's important to stress to new donors is to contribute in small increments on a regular basis. Giving money in one big lump is nice but those little bits of green - stretched out over months - will sustain the campaign over the long haul.

[Larkspur]

9. A lot of us won't forget his betrayal on FISA

Obama is not getting any $$ from me.

[blogslut]

12. Okay

You have that right.

[JoFerret]

59. Very big of you to grant that. n/t

.

[Teaser]

36. I'll give twice then, once for me and once for you.

.

[JoFerret]

50. I understand on the money

but Obama is a great candidate. Does not make everything he believes, says and stands for "great".
this was a disappointment. No doubt one of many to come.

Other leaders can pave the way on these principles and make it easier for candidates to follow.

That's a the way it works - not ideological purity - but risk-taking leap-frogging. Let's put energy behind the principle leaders (who are they by the way?) and show that they have the support so a candidate can fall behind and not get hammered.

We can't expect the nominee to be the lead on edge issues.

[charlie and algernon]

11. people are going on vacation now

people are probably holding off donations so they have enough for their summer vacation. Once people start coming off their summer break mindset, those donations will pick up again.

[MikeNearMcChord]

10. I have given twice, not much, but the job openings for

CEO's or GM's for sports teams is very tight:P And I will give some more into the future.

[City Lights]

16. Our giving has slowed.

We couldn't maintain the pace we were on during the heat of the primary season. We'll continue to donate, but it won't be near the amount we were giving in the Spring.

[williesgirl]

17. If he votes yes on FISA today, that's it for me. I'll vote for him due to SCOTUS, but that'll be it

I'm disabled and have given him 3 donations. I was so excited by his positions during the primary but now I'm getting disgusted. This quick turnaround away from small donors makes me want to puke. But nothing is so upsetting as FISA. He knows better.

So go after the Repukes and Independents, continue fucking your base. We're not as dumb as the Repuke base and he'll quickly find that out.

rec'd

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

22. "Small donor fatigue"? I don't think so. Everyone I know is giving as much as they can...

several times this month and will continue to give. They know how high the stakes are. :)

[avaistheone1]

23. Obama won't be getting money from me either.

Obama has betrayed us on FISA. He won't be getting money from me.

[Catherina]

25. Was Obama ever going to get money from you? n/t

[bunnies]

27. Hillary was still in the race in May.

So, judging Obamas fund raising ability by Mays numbers is dumb. How about we see a month where he's the ONLY Dem running. The fatalism, at this point, is a bit over the top.

[democrattotheend]

28. Guess it's time to pony up

To show that we still matter.

[Indenturedebtor]

30. I was going to donate this check

I will wait until he does something Liberal again. We're really strapped for cash and Money is the only thing that makes a sound in the political forest nowadays.

[Cha]

32. Is that a direct quote from Obama

about the "small donor" fatique or is it the wsj stirring shit?

[DeepModem Mom]

39. Gosh, no! No candidate would ever say such a thing. It's the writer's characterization...

of the decrease in the monthly amount raised since March.

[Cha]

41. Right...so, I personally know of

two new donors without computers who gave me money to give to Obama's campaign. :)

[DeepModem Mom]

43. You could be the turnaround, zidzi!

My own view is that as the primary race wound down, donating wound down. As the GE gets going -- when debates begin, for example -- my guess is donating will spike again.

[Cha]

45. Excellent educated

view, Deepmodem Mom. And, after the Democratic Convention at the end of August..it should be amazing in September on through to November.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

35. The *ONLY* one who said small donors are showing signs of fatigue is the guy that wrote the article.

[cbc5g]

37. And isn't that newpaper Murdoch owned?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

38. It surely is.

[DeepModem Mom]

44. Well, you can't argue with the monthly decline in figures. My guess is...

that as the primaries wound down, so did donations. And as the GE campaign heats up, donations will uptick again.

[Overseas]

42. Golly, yeah, the Wall Street Journal is very concerned about the Obama campaign

So glad their concerns are posted for us to review every day. Wonder what helpful critiques we can find in there for tomorrow.

[PolNewf]

46. 115,000 donations in a week

https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/independencematch2?match_campaign_id=10&source=feature_independence

At that rate, assuming $100 average donation, he will bring in 49-50 million per month.

[Bonobo]

47. What is your interest...

in continually posting "smearish"-type articles that are primarily intended to divide Obama from the Grassroots?

Why? What do you hope to accomplish?

[DeepModem Mom]

55. I think it's valuable to know what's being said "out there" in the press.

While most here post with an agenda, I post only to inform. My purpose at this site has always been to post news articles. I don't post from blatant right-wing sites, but I do post from the MSM because that's where most Americans get news if they get much of any at all.

Beyond that, I'm a realist. While I'd love to be only a cheerleader for our candidate, I've worked on quite a few campaigns, and, believe me, those inside a campaign, those most dedicated to the candidate and his cause, absolutely must be aware of how the candidate and the campaign is being perceived -- and that includes how they are being presented in the press.

If I post about division between Obama and the netroots, it's not because I welcome that division. I abhor it. But it's a reality that we, and our candidate, have to face. (We will get past it, and get past the last few days when the news has been full of it.)

I don't go looking for articles on a certain subject, or articles that will cause trouble. I go through the same sources each and every day -- it takes a while -- and post articles that I think might be of interest or valuable to see. Generally what I post reflects what's in the news on that particular day. I'm assuming you've seen some of the other articles I've posted over the course of my years here. I'm not aware that I'm seen as having a reputation for causing division. I, in fact, didn't post in GDP at all during the primaries because I couldn't stand the division here, with DUers turning on each other. (And also, because anything posted in GDP at that time just to inform, and not without an agenda, I found to be of no interest.)

I understand your question, and respect it. But I hope you can understand my answer. I haven't posted here all these years to cause trouble. I'm just here to inform.

[blogslut]

57. Deep Modem Mom always posts fair

You take that back.

[JoFerret]

61. Yawn

.

[DeepModem Mom]

62. Hi, Jo --

Were you responding to blogslut -- or to one of the posts above?

[SoCalDem]

54. The DNC needs money.. big donors CAN (and will) send large money to them

Obama's donors will still donate to HIM, but many cannot afford to do BOTH..

The DNC suffered bigtime, when HRC dragged the primary out.. Normally, a candidate emerges in Feb, and there are several months bfore the convention for the DNC to gather donations..

and Many of Obama's donors are waiting to see how the HRc extortion plan works out too.. It's a bitter pill to swallow for a die-hard Obama fan who makes a small income...to think that his/her $25 donation "might" end up in the 109MILLION dollar bank account of the Clintons..

[depakid]

56. And the farther he tacks to the right and panders to the corporatists

the more fatigued it will get, and the more the enthusiasm that we all counted on will wane as people come to grips with the notion that he really is just another opportunistic politician.