Straining to Reach Money Goal, Obama Presses Donors

NYTimes ^ | 9/8/2008 | MICHAEL LUO and JEFF ZELENY

[Red in Blue PA]

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.

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Chris Carlson/Associated Press Senator Barack Obama, who spoke Monday in Flint, Mich., has bypassed federal financing, giving him more freedom but requiring continuing fund-raising. 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.

[Red in Blue PA]

"Please give, the Messiah needs your help"

[jersey117]

The Obama camp grossly misunderestimated Americana.

[Loud Mime]

fools and their money...

[screaminsunshine]

The useful idiot college kids had to go back to school. They are not at home with the parents and are tapped out.

[BigBobber]

Nobody is going to pay $50,000 to have their picture taken with Plugs?

What went wrong?

[Vaduz]

Donors to Obama press this.

[sunmars]

Basically Obama’s oilwell has dried up, donors are maxed out and Obama’s spending more than he’s bringing in.

Oh dear, how sad, never mind

[The South Texan]

The Democrats got to arrogant believing the polls that showed the Messiah way ahead and with people joining the Rat party by linking that with the record number of voters in their primaries. Perhaps Operation Chaos succeeded beyond Rush's wildest imagination and the “chickens are coming home to roost for Obama and the Drive By Media.”

[Doogle]

Straining to Reach Money Goal, Obama Presses Donors

...or, how to waste 400 million dollars and still keep over 300 advisers

[sunmars]

I’m struggling to see how Obama has wasted so much money or has there syphoning off somewhere to cronies

[Cheapskate]

Back in the day( when I drove and picked up checks for phonerooms) they called this stunt the "reload"

Now Barok is showing he flock what it will like to be taxpayers under him!

Pay, pay and pay again! hehehehehehe

[sunmars]

Guys we need an angle to beat him with on this and this is it.

So I guess a great way to look at this and its what they threw at Hillary, if you can’t handle a campaign and manage its finances, you’ve overspent and overbudget, what makes you think we can trust you with the economy.

McCain are you listening, run with this.

[Doogle]

300 advisers and “hush” money, it's rather costly to keep people quiet.

[tcrlaf]

“or has there syphoning off somewhere to cronies”

Dozens of $10,000 a week “Consultants”, $7 million dollar hollywood sets, etc,etc...

Obama’s staff has been burning through cash at a HORRIFIC rate, thinking they would be able to raise $100 MILLION (!!!)per month in these closing days.

OOPS....

They have NOT been coordinating with state and local parties in most areas, instead, paying for everything from scratch. That’s about to bite him in the ass...

[dirtboy]

Basically Obama’s oilwell has dried up, donors are maxed out and Obama’s spending more than he’s bringing in.

And McCain wrapped up the primary early while Obama had to spend heavily into June. Now, McCain has an entire new base of donors - Palin conservatives - AND still has his public financing as well.

[Antoninus]

So I guess a great way to look at this and its what they threw at Hillary, if you can’t handle a campaign and manage its finances, you’ve overspent and overbudget, what makes you think we can trust you with the economy.

That's a good debate point. McCain should use it. His campaign has been a complete contrast--doing a lot with a little.

[RippinGood]

excellent picture -
the goofy t-shirt, skirt, running shoes, pleading expression

juxtaposed with
working people heading home who can't be bothered with her

tells an apt story...

[Red in Blue PA]

Not to mention that running a campaign was was one of the things specifically cited by Obama as "experience".

[TheRightGuy]

The useful idiot college kids had to go back to school. They are not at home with the parents and are tapped out.

pizza definitely more important than politics

[sunmars]

One of the best things McCain could say is the main reason i went with public financing was that i didnt have to ask hard up individual voters to contribute hard earned money when the economy is in such trouble.

Total winner if you ask me.