Straining to Reach Money Goal, Obama Presses Donors

[kennetha]

Is this just a clever ploy to get people to donate more? Or is there really something to worry about here? Either way, I guess its time for former Hillary supporters like me (who gave the max to Hillary) to finally get off my duff and give some dough to Obama. That would make it official, I guess, that I'm finally over my disappointment. Stakes are too high.

By MICHAEL LUO and JEFF ZELENY
Published: September 8, 2008

After months of record-breaking fund-raising, a new sense of urgency in Senator Barack Obama’s fund-raising team is palpable as the full weight of the campaign’s decision to bypass public financing for the general election is suddenly upon it.

Pushing a fund-raiser later this month, a finance staff member sent a sharply worded note last week to Illinois members of its national finance committee, calling their recent efforts “extremely anemic.”

At a convention-week meeting in Denver of the campaign’s top fund-raisers, buttons with the image of a money tree were distributed to those who had already contributed the maximum $2,300 to the general election, a subtle reminder to those who had failed to ante up.

The signs of concern have become evident in recent weeks as early fund-raising totals have suggested that Mr. Obama’s decision to bypass public financing may not necessarily afford him the commanding financing advantage over Senator John McCain that many had originally predicted.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/us/politics/09donate.html?ex=1378699200&en=ff5c065639bff2ea&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink">Straining to Reach Money Goal, Obama Presses Donors

[kysrsoze]

1. Yeah, meanwhile McCain is having dinners for $5k to $25k per plate

That was on WGN news in Chicago - he was here last night. I was appalled to see that. Change, eh? Right, McSame.

[Chloroplast]

8. I watched that this morning. LOL.

At $25K a plate, Turncoat Johnny pulled in $4 million; I can't imagine anyone wanting to eat dinner with that guy. I think Biden's going to be in town as well for a fund-raising dinner.

[terrya]

2. They raised $10 million in 24 hours recently.

I thought they were doing very well with fundraising.

I'll donate today.

[Statistical]

3. Wait a second?

1) I thought McCain couldn't raise money after the GE started (when he accepted nomination. Isn't that what public financing means? He gets $85 million in free money but he can't accept any private donations.

2) $5 & $25K. The financing limit is $3,200 per person right?

Anyone understand how they are able to do this?

If he gets $85 million free plus is able to collect $25K a plate it seems a "little" unfair? I mean get 200 people together and that is $5 million a day!

[kennetha]

5. he can raise money on behalf of the party, I think

There are limits to what the party can do for the campaign with that money.

limit is 2300

[Statistical]

7. What about the rest of the money?

What about the rest of the money? Can the RNC use it to support McCain? Can they run the same exact ad except instead of it saying "paid for by McCain" it says "paid for by the RNC"?

I feel like a fool. I always assumed the limit was $3,200 per person per candidate period.

If the party can collect $25K per person and then spend it on the candidate doesn't it make the limits kinda useless?

[kennetha]

10. I think the party can run a certain amount in

"coordinated" ads. 19 million? But they have to be dual message ads -- they can support McCain and one or more republican candidates. They can't simply be more McCain ads. (same for the DNC)

[freestyle]

4. Obama/DNC outraised McCain/RNC by $8 million in July

That is buried in the article. We should always give as much as we comfortably can, but we don't need to panic.

[dkf]

6. McCain gets $85 million from taxpayers and

gets to collect WAAAAY more than $2300 per person through the Repub Party. Campaign Finance Reform is a JOKE.

[kennetha]

9. Maybe but it (public financing) must be a disadvantage

Because otherwise Obama wouldn't have been willing to take a hit on his reputation by turning it down after he suggested he would take it. He would only be willing to pay that slight cost to his reputation for a substantial benefit, I would think.

[dkf]

12. I guess he figured he couldn't find as many $26,000 contributors

but could get more $2300 contributors. Not as many fat cats, but more average folk.

[high density]

11. "The majority of Obama's donors during the primary had yet to write checks for the general election"

Hmm, why is that?

I guess this is the NY Times telling us to get our butt in gear. The media desperately wants us to pony up for millions in ad money.

[kennetha]

13. What determines what can only be used in the Primaries vs GE?

I've never understood that.

[high density]

14. Public financing

Obama can roll over his primary funds to the general election (i.e. after the convention) because he opted out of public financing. People who gave $2300 during the primary can give another $2300 for the general election.

[Statistical]

15. Nothing exactly.

You can ONLY donate $2,300 for primary AND $2,300 for GE.

So if you donate $1-$2,300 it is considered primary money.
Don't worry "primary money" isn't lost it gets "rolled over" into GE money after accepting the nomination.

If you gave >$2,300 in the primary some of that money was designated for GE ONLY.

Example:
You give $4,000 to Obama in primary. He can ONLY use $2,300 of that for the primary. The other $1,700 is reserved for the GE only.

This affected Hillary more than Obama or McCain. She had a lot of big donors who maxed out first month of primary. Which means she had money she couldn't use UNTIL she won the nomination (which never happened).

[demokatgurrl]

16. A "Clever Ploy"????? By the NYTIMES?

I don't think so. I posted this same article earlier today. Dems are no match for Repubs when it comes to money. And Obama won't take money from just anybody. Is that bad?

[kennetha]

17. That was a joke

And I didn't mean the NYTimes was the one deploying the clever ploy. I was joking that Obama was perhaps making a ploy to shake more money loose. But again, it was meant as a joke.

It is amazing, though, how much money it costs to elect a president in these United States.

[Demi_Babe]

18. PLEASE don't forget to donate