It seems Fred's S.C. campaign is a little short of cash

Quietly, deep within an e-mail to supporters from Fred Thompson's campaign manager touting the former senator's South Carolina game plan, William Lacy describes the long days the candidate is putting in on the Palmetto State's campaign trail. He said they needed more advertising to give Thompson the best chance to do well in the upcoming Republican primary there.

Then there's one line we almost overlooked where Lacy makes a possibly revealing admission about the Tennessean's campaign financial condition with ramifications for his political finish.

"Right now," he says, "my budget is a little short of where it needs to be to get that done."

He adds, "Even a donation of $10, $20 or $25 would help Fred get where he needs to be." Thompson is not alone in being cash-strapped. As we wrote Friday, Rudy Giuliani's campaign is not paying top staffers this month, among other cutbacks to maximize funds for their firewall efforts in Florida.

Candidates do not need to report their 2007 fourth-quarter fundraising figures to the Federal Election Commission until the end of this month. But this short Lacy message looking for what is, in effect, small change would not seem to portend well for the Fred Thompson camp's literal fortunes.

Today, Lacy sent another e-mail thanking supporters for their donations and saying they made a hardworking Fred "poised" for success. He also reported a strong response to an appeal for volunteers to go to South Carolina to canvas for Fred.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Jim Gonzal.es]

Maybe you should actually visit Fred Thompson's website where the fund raising is through the roof.

After the Iowa caucus they wanted to raise 540,000 by January 11th and they are close to million dollars right now.

(Hmm. Good pt. Maybe they're just crying wolf to donors.)

[Cathi Gladden]

I've been to Fred's site and his numbers have tripled since the debate and the money is pouring in. He is raising alot of money and will continue to do so. Fred is the only conservative in this race for President and I'm shocked and disgusted at how little time the liberal media spends on Fred Thompson.

[Rick AZ]

I think the numbers they are loking at are before the debate Thursday. Fred had a goal and exceeded it. It would be nice to see a candidate get the nomination based on ideals and substane, not how well the suite the media and how much money. Fred is running on issues and principals and going too the people, small groups and not using a great deal of money doing it. Since the media has picked McCain and Huckabee as the two
anointed ones my question is why o we bother with the rest of the primarys.

Go Fred

[Jim]

To Borrow A Line From Fred Thompson's Mentor, Ronald Reagan,

"Now there you go again!" Here, the liberal media nuts are trying to continue the false legend that Fred is out of cash & ready to withdraw. Why do they do this? Because the media is scared of Fred winning the nomination; because Fred will win the Presidency.

DO THEY REPORT THAT HUCKABEE ASKED HIS DONORS FOR A MILLION? Of course not. Why don't they? They want the Huckster because he would be a problem for the Republicans

HEY...LA TIMES...EVERY CAMPAIGN asks it's donors for money, repeatedly. Most importantly, Fred is bringing in LOTS of small donors with the Small $$ appeal. These people then feel they REALLY involved in a campaign...AND we have that many more foot soldiers for Fred.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY? Don't believe anything that the liberal media says. Fred is raising buckets of cash and the lines are getting reaaaaaaaally long at his events.

[Markustee]

Here you go again - creating a "story" by telling a lie. I've got to say that the LA Times is certainly living up to its reputation as being a little less journalism than, say, the National Enquirer.

Andrew Malcolm, why don't you write a story about how the little green men from the planet Xircex are collaborating with Thompson to overthrow the solar system? It would give you such greater credibility.

Thompson has been, from the beginning of his campaign, depending on grass roots support for his finances. As people learn what he stands for, that support grows - and so do his financial backers.

I will fix this problem, thanks for bringing it to my attention. I will contribute to Fred.

(Here's the problem, partner. You have one hand of the campaign pleading urgent poverty to would-be supporters and another arm boasting of its resources. Now, let's see, well, of course, it must be the media who's lying. Get real!)

[Will Barnes]

You guys in the mainstream media are the reason people like Rush Limbaugh and sean Hannity are multi-millionaires. You have a way of distorting FACTS to fit your own agenda. It has become quite apparent that you liberals in the media are scared of a conservative like Fred Thompson. The mainstream media has issued death watches for Thompson, Romney, and Giuliani. They just happen to be the three conservatives in the race.

You have annointed Rev. Huckabee and John McCain as the inevitable candidates because they are Liberal moderates.

Shame on you for not doing your homeowrk on the ACTUAL fundraising suge that Senator Thompson has benefitted from over the last 72 hours.

Shame on you for not allowing true democracy to take place, and preying upon the Ameircan People.

[Chris]

Isn't it amazing to watch that money pour in yet see "reports" of his campaign being "short"?

It's the same type of agenda that was documented and reported here;

AP Gives Thompson the ‘04 Treatment by Jed Babbin
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24127

Conservative Blackout by Lisa Fabrizio
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12517

I also don't see many reports of Fred's latest endorsement by Human Events, in the true measure of the only consistently conservative candidate...it's all about trust.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24398

(Isn't it amazing how one arm of a campaign pleads poverty to donors while another arm of the same campaign boasts of its resources. So, of course, it's the media that's lying. How convenient!)

[fredhead08]

We're at 850,000, up about 400,000 since the debate. But don't listen to these columnists, do you think Fred's team is going to act like the don't need money? They might be drawing a line in the sand in SC, but he's in it for the long haul. Don't think McCain, Huckabee or Romney are fooling all of us Carolina folks. GO FRED!!

[EDG]

My guess is that they are trying to get the most out of the bounce they are getting from the debate, if the party I went to today is any indication Fred is now the man to beat.

To make that observation more interesting I didn't see Fred Thompson bumper stickers on anyone's car, so my guess is most were new converts like myself.

[Mael]

This is entirely wrong and not based on reality. We in the grassroots are well on our way to raising a million dollars for Fred since New Hampshire and it won't end there. We still have plenty of cash to give and we are growing and recruiting and promoting. We will not be stopped by a media that has been almost hostile to Thompson. Thompson is his own man and that makes him our man. We do not want the bridge to Liberalbitha candidate Huckabee or the I never ever supported Amnesty McCain even though I did draft the bill. Fred is going to Win SC and he is going on to the rest of the South. $864,297 is where we are at and it was half that 2 days ago. So please talk about something you take some time to research.

[Tony]

Mr. Malcolm, you should go back to the school you graduated from and punch your professors in the mouth. Then you should march down to the registrars office and demand a full refund of your tuition because those idiots didn't teach you anything about journalism. Either that or you are a Lib shill poseur.

If you need research help, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret: it's called the internet. My 4 yr old is available as a consultant if you need help. Her rates are reasonable (gotta love the free market).

Thanks for energizing the Fredheads. Idiots like you in the MSM are the reason we are going to take our country back from the grassroots level-one blade at a time.

Go Fred!!! Go Fredheads!!!

[Jim Gonzales]

My point was your information is out of date and that you should of researched it a little further.

(It was researched. They were saying two things at the same time.)

[Rick Moran]

"(Isn't it amazing how one arm of a campaign pleads poverty to donors while another arm of the same campaign boasts of its resources. So, of course, it's the media that's lying. How convenient!)"

I think the problem here is one of timing.

The email your quote from is from Thursday afternoon - before the debate and before the effort by more than 100 blogs to raise cash for the campaign really got underway.

Following the debate, the pace of contributions picked up substantially on Friday and Saturday - to the tune of about half a million dollars.

Mr. Malcolm was entirely correct in his analysis based on the information he had in hand. However, judging by the surge in fundraising (along with enormous crowds showing up at the candidate's events) it would seem that Mr. Malcolm wrote his story slightly behind the curve - not his fault given the radical change in the campaign's situation.

So it was not the campaign speaking out of both sides of its mouth with regard to fundraising. It was simply a big change caused mostly by the debate which took place after the fundraising missive Mr. Malcolm quoted from.

(Thanks, Rick. I believe you've nailed it.)

[Jim Gonzales]

By your own admission in the article there were 2 e-mail. One asking for donations and another one thanking people for giving the donations.

At the time of the second e-mail the donations had spiked like crazy over the debate performance and Fred's request for help. I got the e-mails AND followed what was going on at Fred Thompson's site including the donation tally, you obviously have not and missed the real story which is Fred Thompson has had a surge of support including donations.

I think your making horrible leaps of logic. You wrote "Then there's one line we ALMOST overlooked where Lacy makes a POSSIBLY revealing admission "

You almost overlooked it? It is possibly revealing?

[H&C]

This doesn't surprise me at all, Fred should go home before he further embarrasses himself in this race. For you that think Fred is a conservative your wrong, he has a anti gun record, he is pro-choice, he believe in amnesty and he supported McCain-Feingold-Thompson. Fred has called a lot of people liberal, but his record is what makes him one.

Go Home Fred!!! Go Home Fred!!!

[Bob Graaf]

Stop and think a minute, ( I know that's hard for the liberal press to do), but in this situation, even if your donation numbers are goiong up, are you going to tell your supporters "we are getting more money, so you can slack up now"?
My gosh, where's your brain. 96% of the states are left yet!!!

(Well, that in effect is what they did yday, without the "stop giving" part.)

[Dave Gordon]

I think I receive all of William Lacy's emails as I'm a "Fred of Friend" and I've searched the emails I have and I don't see the reference Andrew Malcolm makes in this story.

I don't see the following in any of my emails. -- "Right now," he says, "my budget is a little short of where it needs to be to get that done." -- WHERE IS THIS REFERENCE? I DON"T SEE IT!

As far as the comment about the additional $10, $25 or $50, I would hope that other candidates are setting those expectations for their donors as well.

Along those lines, Fred had a goal of $540,000 he met for SC and now he's going for $1,000,000 (which he'll probably get) by Monday. He's raised almost $350,000 since the debate late Thursday night. I think most would agree that he's doing just fine based upon his goals. I think this story is just more of an attempt to keep conservatives home on election day and I don't think conservatives are buying it.

To those interested, sign up for Friends for Fred @ www.fred08.com and find out for yourself.

(Well, then you're missing the one William B. Lacy sent out Thurs morning:
From: William B. Lacy, Campaign Manager [mailto:confirmation@fred08.com]
Sent: Thu 1/10/2008 11:04 AM
Subject: Let me lay out for you where I think we stand

Dear andrew,

You have been a Friend of Fred since Sep 05 2007 05:01PM

We appreciate your support and activity on Fred's behalf. Tens of thousands of Americans have joined you in the firm belief that Fred Thompson is the right man to guide America as President.

Today, as Fred's Campaign manager, I have a special favor to ask.

Let me lay out for you where I think we stand.

I believe Fred can make a big move in South Carolina, just a week from Saturday.

He is down there, working hard night and day and touring the state by bus. We have a tremendous ground game.

We are completing our television advertising placement today.

Now, we need to make sure that we can supplement that advertising with strong messages on the radio and with direct voter contact.

Right now, my budget is a little short of where it needs to be to get that done.

I talk to a lot of Fred's supporters from all walks of life. Most of them say they can afford to make at least a small contribution.

Some can't, and if that's your situation, then thank you for all you have done and keep fighting.....

[Robert Thompson]

Malcolm.

Lacy is simply acknowledging that Fred's supporters met a goal at a particular stage of the campaign. This would not mean that more would not be needed. Is this difficult to comprehend?

[KC]

What? Since the NH primary he's raised almost a million dollars just for use in SC. Since the debate I've watched the number grow by 400K. Every candidate is sending out letters right now asking their supporters for money. Why don't you guys stick to covering the message the candidates are trying to get across rather than taking their fundraising letters and trying to make a false story out of it. That will prevent the "timing" issue someone else tried to use to excuse this failed attempt at journalism. This article is complete garbage.

[Deb]

I suppose it's better to only ask wealthy donors for big money! We wouldn't want the average man with average income to get involved with politics! We certainly don't want them inserting their 'outdated' ideals into the equation!

Fred's the story here. Just try to ignore him...

[Kelley]

What is the LA Times talking about??

Over at Fred08.com he's got almost a million dollars raised since the last debate!

Fred is surging!

[Paul]

"Maybe you should actually visit Fred Thompson's website where the fund raising is through the roof.

After the Iowa caucus they wanted to raise 540,000 by January 11th and they are close to million dollars right now."

Fred is close to a million dollars? LOL! Ron Paul raised $10 mill in two days!

And the toads on FOX asked Ron Paul if he was electable? LMAO! He's the only one of the so called Republican candidates (accept for the self-funding Mitt) who has the money to wage a campaign, and the supporters/donors/voters to continue funding him.

Give me a break...

[Mael]

$917,982 and counting the money is pouring in. We will hit 1 million tomorrow.
South Carolina crowds are standing room only. Fred is going to send Huckabee and McCain to the woodshed.

[Dwan]

Paul,
What's Ron doing with all that money anyway? So far Fred has still managed to get more votes than Ron. If Ron doesn't win, what's he going to do with all the money left over? When Ron loses and drops out, remember all of us who told you the truth... we told you he wouldn't win! Sorry you got scammed out of your donations to Ronl, but we warned you! Too bad for you, online poll votes don't count.

[Sascha]

The good thing about the Internet is that you don't need to pay spin doctors anymore: there are a lot of 'perdigiorno' (as we say in Italy) who are only too willing to defend you for free, out of sheer idealism...
Fred Thompson's showing was quite poor in Iowa and New Hampshire so its faithful will rant and lie and slander and perjure themselves to counteract the news of the liberal (or just traditional) media - for free...

[Mael]

Fred Thompson has improved his standing in South Carolina. A 11 point surge since the 1/7 and a 7 point surge just since the SC Debate. Fred is on the upward swing in SC.

He did better than expected in Iowa even though a phony story was planted on election eve to depress his vote.

We are going to push him over the top. www.fred08.com