Democrats leading fundraising, waitng for RNC numbers

The Senate Democratic fundraising committee took in more cash than its Republican counterpart last month, but started September with less money stockpiled for the sprint to Election Day, new fundraising figures show.


More news that the Democrats are closing the "enthusiasm gap" against Republicans.

Fundraising figures for August show that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised more than its Republican counterpart the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $7.42 million, while the National Republican Senatorial Committee raised $6.05 million.

The DSCC however spend more money in August and thus had less left over in the bank than the Republicans.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee outraised its Republican counterpart by about $1.7 million in August. The DCCC had $39.1 million in the bank on Sept. 1 compared to the NRCC's $25.6 million

Figures for Republican National Committee fundraising are not out yet, but the Democratic National Committee raised $8.32 million in August, with $39.05 million left in the bank at the end of the month.

The Republicans have been giving a lot of their money to shadowy groups connected with Karl Rove. In August, these groups raised $14.5 million.

RNC objects to Obamas's NYC night-on-the-town

Apparently the Republican National Committee is not happy that President Barack Obama took his wife Michelle to New York for a "romantic date."

“As President Obama prepares to wing into Manhattan’s theater district on Air Force One to take in a Broadway show, GM is preparing to file bankruptcy and families across America continue to struggle to pay their bills,” RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho said in an email this afternoon.

Obama flew Michelle to New York City today to see Air Supply (yes, Air Supply) perform in Manhattan's theater district.

The Associated Press

RNC slams Obama for romantic date with Michelle in New York

Christian Science Monitor - ‎1 hour ago‎

By Jimmy Orr | 05.30.09 Sure, it's one of the worst songs ever written. But perhaps President Obama and First Lady Michelle are closet Air Supply fans and are simply “Keeping the Love Alive” by enjoying a date-night in New York City tonight.

Looks like a night on Broadway for first couple The Associated Press

Looks like a night on Broadway for first couple WLOS

Obama doubles McCain fundraising in June

Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe sent out this email today.

Barack Obama raised a very healthy $52 million in June easily surpassing John McCain on brought in $22 million. On the barackobama.com blog, it says that there is a mistake in the email and that the figure of $72 million cash on hand is for Obama for America only, and not the combined total with the DNC.

The DNC and Obama for America have a combined total of $92.3 cash on hand, so still behind the figure for the RNC and the McCain campaign, which is about $95 million. The DNC has been spending money at a much higher rate than the RNC.

Obviously though, if fundraising in the months to come is anything comparable to what happened in June, the Democrats will easily overtake the Republicans in cash.

Paul --

We have some big news we want to share with you.

Because of your generosity and commitment, we're reporting to the press today that this campaign is in a very strong financial position.

In the month of June, supporters like you helped raise $52 million.

But more impressive than the number is how you did it. Hundreds of thousands of ordinary people contributed to building our campaign for change. Many were first-time donors, giving only what they could afford -- and the average donation was just $68.

You continue to prove what ordinary Americans committed to change can accomplish, despite the Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs funding so much of our opponents' campaign.

But we can't stop now.

It's going to take everything we've got to defeat John McCain and the Republican National Committee in November. And we can't do it without your continued support.

Can you make a donation of $25 now to strengthen our movement for change?

https://donate.barackobama.com/junenumbers

I also wanted to share with you another promising piece of news.

The Obama campaign and the DNC ended June with a combined total of nearly $72 million in the bank. It's a healthy number. But McCain and the RNC together still have a huge cash advantage, and we need your help to close the gap.

As I mentioned in my video message to you earlier in the week, we're facing a Republican machine with unprecedented resources at its disposal. The McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee finished June with nearly $100 million in the bank.

Our campaign does not accept donations from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs, and neither does the Democratic National Committee. But John McCain and the RNC have no such standards.

Along with the vast amounts of unregulated money being raised by shadowy outside groups, there's no telling how much they'll spend running attack ads.

We must work together and fight back against their efforts.

Please make a donation of $25 now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/junenumbers

I know this isn't the first time we've asked you for money, and it won't be the last.

We have developed a strategy -- a very aggressive strategy -- that will only work if our millions of supporters continue to contribute their time and their money.

We are now on the air with TV ads in 18 states -- including 14 that George W. Bush carried in the 2004 election. And in each one we're also building extensive grassroots field organizations.

It's all part of our strategy to spread Barack's positive message and compete in all 50 states.

That strategy will work, and it has to. The stakes are too high and the need for change too great. We are thrilled to be on this journey with you and thank you for all you have done so far. But victory is only possible with your continued help.

Please give $25 now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/junenumbers

We can't do this without you.

Thanks,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Video: 50 State Strategy

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe sent out an email today outlining the campaign's 50 state strategy.

Plouffe mentions the RNC having more than ten times the money on hand as the RNC, a big chunk of which will go toward supporting John McCain.

Paul --

We're trying something new today.

To bring you an important briefing on our general election strategy, I shot a short video on a laptop in my office. Our team added in some detailed slides with all of the relevant information.

It's important that you're fully briefed on the opportunities and challenges ahead, and this video details how we're going to put together the organization to win in November.

Watch the strategy briefing now, and please make a donation of $25 to help us execute this plan:

https://donate.barackobama.com/strategyvideo

Thank you,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Reasons Not to Accept Public Funding

Although one would think that a publicly-funded campaign fits right into Sen. Barack Obama's agenda, there are good reasons he might want to avoid taking such a route.

First of all, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has raised much more money than its Democratic counterpart, the DNC. A significant amount of this money has come from special interest groups, PACs, lobbyists, etc.

Also, John McCain can't stop independent 527 groups from campaigning on his behalf with special interest money.

So, if Barack accepts public funding at this time, it may put him at a disadvantage in the end.

The Obama campaign sent out an email today illustrating why one has to look past just the numbers from McCain's fundraising efforts.

In the excitement of the past few days, there's some news you may have missed.

John McCain and the Republican National Committee released their fundraising numbers for May, and we've got our work cut out for us.

The McCain campaign raised $21 million, which will be combined with $23.7 million raised in partnership with the Republican National Committee.

That's nearly $45 million dollars in one month -- money that will be used to attack Barack Obama and support John McCain's effort to extend the policies of George W. Bush for another four years.

We need to respond quickly and show that we are ready to take on Senator McCain in the general election.

You can help by encouraging a fellow supporter to take the next step and own a piece of this campaign.

Make a donation of $25 today and match the gift of a first-time donor. You can even choose to exchange a note with them about why you support Barack:

https://donate.barackobama.com/promise

Even more disturbing than the amount of money John McCain and the RNC have raised is the way they raised it.

They depend on donations from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs. And top officials in McCain's campaign have been asking these donors to write checks and raise money from their clients to the tune of $50,000 each.

Barack is doing things differently.

This campaign has never accepted donations from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs. And yesterday the Democratic National Committee announced that they will follow the same restriction.

We are going to compete in the general election the same way we have all along -- by depending on a movement of more than 1.5 million people giving only what they can afford.

Make a $25 donation now and help bring a first-time donor into this campaign:

https://donate.barackobama.com/promise

I'm sure you've heard that Hillary Clinton is suspending her campaign and announcing her support for Barack. We all owe Senator Clinton -- and her supporters -- a great deal of respect for running an incredible campaign and strengthening our party in all 50 states.

But John McCain and his allies are not missing a beat in their campaign to continue the Bush agenda.

As the presumptive nominee, John McCain had a three-month head start to build his party and raise money. But we can't afford to let him have the advantage.

For all his talk of reform, John McCain is willing to rely on huge donations from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs.

We have a historic opportunity to run a new kind of campaign and elect a new kind of leader.

Thank you for your support and for being a part of this movement,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America