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McCain Drowning in Obama's Money

October 23, 2008 9:07 AM

Sen. Barack Obama's fundraising advantage is giving him a tremendous edge over Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

Take the commonwealth of Virginia, and these stats from ABC News' deputy political director Karen Travers:

In that one battleground, Obama has 50 campaign offices to McCain's 24.

Obama has 200 paid staffers in the state, McCain has 50.

Obama is spending $250,000 a day on TV ads in the state, while McCain is spending $30,000 a day.

This fundraising advantage comes directly as a result of Obama's abandonment of his pledge to enter into the public financing system, a system creating to squelch the influence of money in presidential politics.

And while Obama's campaign can rightly claim an unprecedented number of donors, and myriad small donations, it has also refused to abide by principles of full disclosure -- it does not provide the public with the names of any donors who have given less than $200, for instance.

And amidst legitimate inquiries about some of that money coming (illegally) from non -U.S. citizens, and some of that money being given -- in aggregate -- in excess of individual contribution limits, one wonders why it is that the Obama campaign feels this refusal to inform the public where all its money is coming from in any way squares with Obama's claim to be a reformer.

Just as it's tough to envision a world where it's the Obamas who have an unmarried pregnant teenage daughter and conservative pundits are celebrating that fact and demanding that the girl be given privacy, it's tough to imagine a scenario where the media allows McCain to tiptoe away from his campaign finance pledge, untrammeled, and then drown his opponent in cash, the donors for much of which are undisclosed.

-- jpt

October 23, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (168)

User Comments

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"the taxes on small business will mean lay offs in a way that will cripple this country."

Small business will no longer have any capital gains taxes, a $3000 credit for new hires and get 50% tax credits if they give their employees health insurance.

Posted by: Ryan C (the actual real one) | Oct 23, 2008 2:55:02 PM

Some one needs to investigate where all the money come from before the election. It could come from the Al Qaeda who has a ton of money.

Posted by: Peter Truong | Oct 23, 2008 2:47:47 PM

This F, Obama is showing you who he is when he lies to McCain's face and says he'll abide by public financing for his campaign. LIAR....google Obama's lies and you will get a list so long it takes days to read it. Foreign money coming in (a couple of brothers in Pakistan donated $28,000 each)....to Bozo's campaign and we need full disclosure to see conflict of interest.
Americans rise up and take down the Flight 93, that is the Obama campaign, before it gets to the Capitol....rush the cockpit and take it down.
HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN

Posted by: Hopey Uniter, is Dopey Divider | Oct 23, 2008 2:44:13 PM

On November 4th, 2008 , I sincerely hope that all of you who have waged unsubstantiated character attacks on Senator Obama, spread lies, fear and war mongering, preached divisiveness, just sit back, relax, and enjoy watching our next President Barack Hussein (yes, we love the name) Obama accept his win. And when you do, I also hope you take a moment to understand why you have so much hate in your hearts.

cheers ;)

Posted by: voter in PA | Oct 23, 2008 2:29:07 PM

McCain Drowning in Obama's Money


lol. Well Swim Baby, Swim!! daggonit


ridiculous.


Obama /Biden 2008. T-9 until all this is over !

Posted by: voter in PA | Oct 23, 2008 2:21:00 PM

Unemployment will be off the charts if Obama wins....the taxes on small business will mean lay offs in a way that will cripple this country.
NEVER OBAMA!!

Posted by: Hopey Uniter, is Dopey Divider | Oct 23, 2008 2:08:00 PM

I use ICVerify.

Our business is limited to North America with 95% being purchases in the US.

Like I said, the system tends to reject when the address does not match up but is more forgiving for mistakes in the name.

Posted by: Ryan C (the real one) | Oct 23, 2008 1:42:30 PM

The biggest dishonesty is GOP/McCain/Palin's hinting Obama is a terrorist. They know it is not true. If they really thought so they would order an an investigation, take it to the attorney general , etc. They don't believe it and are cynically using the fear for political gain.

Posted by: atd | Oct 23, 2008 1:35:28 PM

This is second post. Campaign Law does not require reporting of smaller than $200. Neither side has reported in past. Each side will have some problems as this is done online. Still you must give credit card number, name, address, employer, age, check box if you are allowed to give under their question form on Obama's site, etc. If a person lied and this is brought forward anyone who committed fraud will probably be prosecuted and may serve prison time. I see Barack Obama has done all he could to prevent any problems.

Please be wise to evaluate why Republicans are now asking why??? Why Republicans provided lists when they haven't in past and is not required by law. Why do they want names of all their people?? Do they even have a right?? Is it that they want to harrass us??

Is this same reason why they claimed voter fraud when no voter fraud existed?? No one has voted yet. No voter fraud can be committed until votes placed. Election day is Nov 4th. Only voter registration fraud occurred by the workers committing fraud against their employer. Seems ACORN is group being hit. Past legal investigation 2004 proved ACORN innocent. No voter fraud occurred. Republican suits were bogus claims for winning an election.

2008 Voters have been illegally been removed from voter registration lists. This is illegal!! This is fraud and is voter suppression. Investigations ongoing. Why and who did?? We shall see?? What will happen?? Computer voting machines are a problem as they can be altered quite easily and most have no paper trail. Many do not show if information technically changed. 2008 some machines were programmed to change Democrat votes to Republican candidate automatically.

Republican Virginia Voter Registration Election Office attempting to suppress voters by warning college student they can not vote or they could lose college scholarships, rights for tuition, etc. Caught and major problems!!

Michigan Republicans attempting/ed to use foreclosed homes as list to keep voters from being eligible to vote. Alerts all over news and continuing at present. Other states being used by Republicans also.

Republicans are filing lawsuits all over country using ACORN as their hit group claiming voter fraud. Republicans did this in 2004 too. No fraud legally ever found. Voter registration fraud never developed into voter fraud as Donald Duck never actually voted. State laws say person who votes must provide ID. Who can claim they are Donald Duck?? Same tactic was used in 2004. No voter fraud.

Results of past tell experts actual voter fraud is really rare. Experts say voter suppression attempts are rampant.

California chair/owner of a national group/firm hired by John McCain and National Republican Party Group arrested for changing people's party affiliation and possible voter registration fraud.

Republicans have a long history of voter suppression tactics they employ. That is why Barack Obama requested special prosecutor to investigate all complaints and lodged complaint. This attorney is one who is investigating present Republican Administration for abuse of power.

I want both parties to comply by law. No voter suppression. Obama had defended ACORN alongside other groups too when he got voter registration into Department of Motor Vehicles. This was good law in Illinois. He also helped talk/train couple of times. He did give ACORN funds during primary for get out the vote canvassing. No funds given during Presidential race. That is his only connection and is ridiculous!!

Posted by: Sharonklim | Oct 23, 2008 1:16:16 PM

Has anyone wondered how and why Obama has so many people at his rallies? Don't any of these people have to work? It might be intersting to see if Acorn is busing them in to fill the arena.

Posted by: conf1689 | Oct 23, 2008 1:16:16 PM

Drown baby drown. McCain is drowning in MY small donations to Obama which I give every month. They have added up to about $800 so far. I now have the same power as the TV networks who have thought of themselves as king makers,..reporting selectively for twenty months to keep the fight going and their ratings high. I get my news from hundreds of state newspapers who's journalists are not slaves of the 24 hour news cycle.

Its time we took back America from large corporations of all types who have transferred their debts to the middle-class, benefitting from tax loopholes while shipping our jobs overseas.

Posted by: Young Atheart | Oct 23, 2008 1:14:58 PM

Obama's program ignores the nation's skyrocketing federal deficit. In hard economic times there is a tendency to overcompensate and throw money after problems. Obama's plan, like GOP candidate John McCain's, could make an already troubling budget deficit worse.

Obama has a lot of expensive promises. His proposals don't have offsetting cost reductions or increased taxes for pay for this. You cannot offset the whole thing by saying you will roll back the tax cuts for the rich.

So, if neither man is being up front with us about what really needs to happen to fix things... what is left: principles, character, honor, experience. McCain has it, Obama doesn't. Obama is buying the election on one side of the fence and giving 832k to ACORN, while preaching on the other side of the fence that he represents 'change'. The definition of "change" is becoming more and more fuzzy with Obama each day.

Posted by: msa123 | Oct 23, 2008 1:14:18 PM

Jake....I know you keep a list of Biden gaffes.....but I hope you covered his BIGGEST, by reminding Americans about the doubt we have in Obama to handle any crisis, let alone International. There would be less chance of effing with John McCain WHO KNOWS THE SYSTEM, KNOWS FOREIGN AFFAIRS!
Where is your headline with the Biden gaffe? It's a bigger point McCain has to remind Americans of than even Joe the Plumber socialism poster boy.

Posted by: Hopey Uniter, is Dopey Divider | Oct 23, 2008 1:12:11 PM

"Is the Obama campaign still refusing to disclose the COST, source, and country of origin of those suits"

What a shock...Belle Starr is lying.

See below:

"When Sen. Obama steps onto the stage in Denver on Thursday night to accept the Democratic nomination for president, he plans to wear a classic two-button, navy, merino wool and cashmere suit from Chicago-based Hartmarx Corp., the company said. The largest suitmaker in the U.S. has sold suits to Obama over the years and, at the presidential hopeful's request, sent two tailors to his Kenwood home earlier this month to custom-make a suit for the historic speech

The company's highest-end Hickey Freeman suit brand is made in Rochester, N.Y., but Obama opted for the Hart Schaffner Marx label made in Des Plaines at a union shop. The team made the suit in four days.

For those who scoff that pleats are out of fashion, let the record show that Obama's pants were indeed pleated, with an inch-and-a-quarter cuff. (He has the height to carry them off, OK? And a 33-inch waist.) The suit would retail at a store such as Nordstrom for $1,500."

Posted by: Ryan C (the real one) | Oct 23, 2008 12:34:49 PM

ROFLMAO.

Concerned in OH repeats what he read on NRO and claims it as his own.

I actually have a credit card processing via the internet.

I can forget the middle initial. I can add a company name. I have spelled people's names wrong.

But if I get the address wrong (street or zip code) the system tends to reject those sales.

Posted by: Ryan C (the real one) | Oct 23, 2008 12:32:54 PM

Since I decided to support Barack Obama I have donated small amounts on a monthly basis. Obama tremendous fund raising organizational skills helps remind me to donate monthly. I get alerts all the time with information and also go view site for information. I find information sent is wonderful. I have gotten more involved. Obama campaign is always polite and do appreciate their sincerity.

Barack Obama took a huge chance when he declined Public Financing. Democrats were way behind Repunlicans for amount of money they had for this Presidential election. All experts analyzed Republican machine would crush Democrats as they had the money and 527 Group super rich money to attack Obama and crush Democrats. Experts showed Democratic Party hardly had any money. Democrats had never been highly successful in raising large amount of campaign funds. Then Barack Obama formed an alliance with them this summer. Republicans are now the one with less money. Barack Obama has moved Democrats ahead. Many fundraisers conducted since then. Now large donors have outpaced small donors for Obama. But we the small donors are still the backbone for Obama. All was huge chance. Obama could have failed, and many thought he would when he declined. But Barack Obama succeeded!!!

Obama had faith in American people. This has paid off in all ways.

July-August last summer Democratic Fundraisers were started and held. Now we can see the big difference in the difference management styles of Republicans, John McCain, and Barack Obama. DEMOCRATS ARE NOW ONES WITH THE MONEY. YES, THE UNLIKELY ONES OF THE PAST. REPUBLICANS WHO USUALLY ARE THE BIG TIME MONEY WINNERS FOR CAMPAIGN FUNDS AND PARTY FUNDS ARE COMPLAINING RIGHT AND LEFT. NOW THEY CLAIM OBAMA IS CHEATING, ETC. NOT SO! DEMOCRATS NOW HAVE A CAMPAIGN FUNDS MANAGER - OBAMA!!! AND THEY ARE STAYING IN BUDGET!!

Barack Obama tremendous management skills for campaign fundraising should be applauded!! Obama is setting the new management program for all future politicians. Being a community organizer has given him better understanding of how system works at ground level. Huge understanding how to do. Ability to manage and organize at this level is crucial to a campaign's success. For Republicans to criticize community organizers mangement skills is a negative tone to workers. Praising as Obama did creates valued help. People want to help. They feel they are important. They work hard!! They become innovative. They become a movement. We are a movement!!

Barack Obama is highly intelligent Harvard Lawyer. But he is for all the people. He is positive. He knows as he has worked his way up from where we are. He has proven to be a wonderful honorable man. He listens and respects all Americans!

Obama believes in all the average people as he feels we are the true backbone of America. Republicans believe in the rich and corporations with idea wealth may trickle down to average worker. Yet Republicans still have philosophy that benefits need to be taken away from average American workers creating even further money income distance between well off and average. Republicans favor corporations to decrease salaries, take benefits away, deregulation of corporations which caused greed and financial crisis we face today. Straw that broke the camels back was Republican Grimms(adviser McCain- famous for Americans are whinnners)law deregulated more and allowed creation of the derivatives used for these questionable mortgages and the bundling of the mortgages to sell as low risk when they were actually high risk. My friend who is institutional auditor explained. This has been proven to be a failed philosophy. Result is Average Americans are having more problems as their money is less and costs are more.

Obama took his chance to believe in Americans!!!

Barack Obama has developed a new highly praised and highly regarded Campaign Fundraising Program. He has taken fundraising drive to new level. History books will be writing about the concept and this program for years to come. Obama has set all fundraising records. I am happy to be part of it.

Some people claim he is not ready??? Clinton Political Machine said he wasn't ready. Republican Machine said he was not ready. Republicans July-August claimed sole rights to the best political campaign machine. Barack Obama has risen to each challenge, saying nothing. Obama was the successful one!!! Obama still claims no fame - he just thanks all who gave!! His philosophy is he is where he is at because of us!! Republicans have always taken different attitude towards those who gave. Sad as I am Republican.

Obama is the future!! He has proven he has the intellectual foresight for this new era. He continues to rise to all challenges.

Barack Obama supports the American People!! Wonderful record breaking fundraising!! I congratulate him and am so happy I was privileged enough to witness this remarkable Primary and Presidential Campaign.

Posted by: Sharonklim | Oct 23, 2008 12:28:23 PM

"The difference is the Obama's spent their own money."
-----
Oh: their "own" money. From their uh PAPER route hahaha.

Posted by: Belle Starr | Oct 23, 2008 12:10:22 PM

Obama is in Indiana telling people to vote. McCain is telling people that Obama is unpatriotic. Actions are louder then words.

Posted by: MM | Oct 23, 2008 12:10:07 PM

Belle Starr

The difference is the Obama's spent their own money. Palin got money to spare.

Posted by: MM | Oct 23, 2008 12:07:25 PM

"I'll also be flying an empty suit in protest."
-----
Is the Obama campaign still refusing to disclose the COST, source, and country of origin of those suits -- not to mention Michelle Obama's ingenue "makeover" -- while they're dissing Palin's purchases?

Posted by: Belle Starr | Oct 23, 2008 12:05:01 PM
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YES WE ARE
YES WE ARE
YES WE ARE

could you like cheese with that WHINE.

Posted by: Omentum | Oct 23, 2008 12:07:07 PM

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