Surprise! McCain is Keeping Up with Obama's Record-Breaking Money Machine.

re: Surprise! McCain is Keeping Up with Obama's Record-Breaking Money Machine.

brit@feb28.com — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:15:58 GMT

While most have noted the "enthusiasm gap" and everyone talks about the money, few have pointed out the obvious connection: While money can buy ad time and hire staff, enthusiastic volunteers are a priceless commodity (literally and figuratively). Even if the McCain campaign and the RNC continually beat Obama and the DNC, Obama will have an army of people willing to work for free. Even Karl Rove recognizes that this will be an "air vs. ground" year of campaigning. The problem for McCain is that, historically, swings states are won on the ground.

Cash can't buy enthusiasm. McCain could triple his fundraising and it won't change the lukewarm support he generates from the Republican base, the GOP establishment, and the right-leaning talking heads and media figures.

McCain's campaign will do their best to spin this into a positive, but for all the money he has taken in, he certainly hasn't made a dent in Obama's upward poll trends.

re: Surprise! McCain is Keeping Up with Obama's Record-Breaking Money Machine.

chuckhasker@yahoo.com — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:26:03 GMT

Thanks for the clear update on the money machines Andrew. It was a bad call on Obama's part that he opted out of the public financing program. He could have accepted the funds and still raised a ton of money through the loop holes. He also could have had bragging rights about staying the course. But instead he flip flopped and once again I am not sure what to think of Obama and his credibility. Chuck Hasker

re: Surprise! McCain is Keeping Up with Obama's Record-Breaking Money Machine.

Nashville_fan — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:45:10 GMT

This is actually not a surprise. The media are the only people who seemed to think that the Republicans weren't going to vigorously contest this campaign. And with all of their corporate and lobbyist backing, why is it surprising that they have more money? Makes sense to me.

Obama's gonna win though. He has the ISSUES on his side.

re: Surprise! McCain is Keeping Up with Obama's Record-Breaking Money Machine.

Pause to Reflect — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:12:00 GMT

I think an important point is being overlooked. Recent events have de-energized Obama's grassroots (or Net-roots). I can think of 4: Obama asking supporters retire Hillary's debt (which was largely accumulated vs. Obama), supporting the FISA bill with immunity (after vowing to filibuster it), backtracking on withdrawal from Iraq, and turning down public financing (after saying he would work with McCain to accept it). If Obama turns towards traditional big money donors, he risks harming his fundraising further, by further alienating the base. That is, Obama (and maybe this Blog) may be misunderstanding the cause and effect. Obama doesn't need to transform into an ordinary politician to save his fundraising. Just the opposite—his transformation into an ordinary politician is what is threatening his fundraising. Further embracing conventional tactics and politics will exacerbate, not ameliorate the problem. If he alienates the Net-roots further (many of whom are far under the contribution limits), his fundraising may suffer further—and his decision to forgo public financing could turn out to be a decisive mistake.

re: Surprise! McCain is Keeping Up with Obama's Record-Breaking Money Machine.

PhrankW — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:48:02 GMT

Of course it helps Obama raise cash amonghis 1,700,000 donors if they think he has money problems. So it would not be suprising to see his campaign poormouth themselves to increase contributions. Within the past couple of days, Obama sent 150 additional PAID staffers to MO. Under the old "watch what they do not what they say" analysis" this suggests strongly that his campaign, marked so far my by impressive money management, does not feel any money As for the big fundraisers, they do promise to be both very productive now that the big-money Clinton doniors are in play and, more importantly, the most appopriate as a source to help LaClinton retire her debt. Let us at least wait until THEY report their figures before we bloviate on their alledged "problems

re: Surprise! McCain is Keeping Up with Obama's Record-Breaking Money Machine.

thehappyamerican — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:37:30 GMT

Setting Obama aside momentarily, McCain has sputterd and puttered along, and done little to attract the sleeping giant,which is not impressed with him! The conservatives of his party (to extend to the "Reagan Democrats").

Stepping right along as a "Moderate" and "reaching acrossed the isle" he's actually kept pace with the fund-raising of his DNC opposition (at least). And WITHOUT the traditional Republican conservative bases' enthusiasm!! (And as the RNC has gone to sleep, concedeing that this year will not be good for Republican wins!).

Thus far McCain the candidate has been sleep walking along and Obama, fresh with his victory of note, has no commanding advantage that can be considered reliable at this juncture.!

McCain has what the military calls STRENGTH IN RESERVE...or a surpluss in the wings ready to come into the fray on his behalf soon, or later in the summer.

Possibly!

Only possibly, because he don't appeal to the troops there! And has done very little to really acknowledge them! McCains problem is he don't believe he is utterly racid in thier eyes. Only, perhaps a bit stale, but otherwize "attractive."

Will McCain do what it takes on his part to mobilize the reserve?

Or play patty cake moderate with The Moderates as The Moderates put Obama in the White House? Because for The Moderate, given a choice of two,"it's the black guys turn, I guess?"

And McCain is not the black guy!

re: Surprise! McCain is Keeping Up with Obama's Record-Breaking Money Machine.

robbep — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:41:15 GMT

Think of what might have been if Obama had just kept his word. He accepts the challenge of accepting public financing and has 80 million guaranteed, more importantly he looks like an honorable person who you can trust. He rallies his democratic collegues and fights Bush on Fisa tooth and nail, this fires up his base and shows a contrast btwn he and McCain. He states that getting our troops out of Iraq is the first thing he is going to do once elected. Unfortunately, none of this happened. He has chosen political advantage over integrity and has damaged his brand. The more you see him the more he looks like a typical pandering politician. His FISA waffle was huge and has damaged him more than the media is letting on. People vote for people they like and believe in, Obama's recent actions have made believing him almost impossible. I remember when Rev. Wright said that Obama, is a politician and he will say what a politician has to say, it seems like Reverend Wright knew him well.

re: Surprise! McCain is Keeping Up with Obama's Record-Breaking Money Machine.

simonanunhappydem — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:29:56 GMT

Obama ticked off part of his base with his flip-flopping on many issues in the past month. If he keeps doing it McCain/RNC will easily outraise him and beat him in November. That is when the left wing of the democratic party will finally understand the huge mistake they made picking Obama against Clinton as the democratic nominee.