New GOP star Sarah Palin makes instant plea for campaign money

St. Paul, Minn. — Sarah Palin is quick.

No more than five minutes after completing her rousing speech last night, the newly minted vice presidential candidate sent out her first national Internet fundraising appeal as a nominee seeking campaign money.

The Republican National Committee, which sponsored the pitch, is hoping that Palin’s stem-winder delivered at the national convention to a prime-time audience of millions transformed the first-term governor into Alaska gold.

The 10-paragraph note signed by Palin asks no fewer than three times for “$2,000, $1,000, $500, $250, $100, $50 or $25.” It also asks donors to give generously.

The missive was time-stamped at 9:10, when she, her family and presidential nominee John McCain were still on the stage of the Xcel Energy Center, basking in the Republican delegates’ four-minute ovation.

The money note says in part:

“As recent polls indicate, this year's election will be close. In tight contests, voter turnout is absolutely critical. The Obama Democrats and their liberal special interests allies are spending unprecedented amounts of money on get-out-the-vote drives.

"We must counter this effort and the nearly $1 billion the Obama Democrats and their allies will spend to defeat John McCain and our Republican candidates at all levels.  And we need your help to succeed.”

Again, the pitch asks for “$2,000, $1,000, $500, $250, $100, $50 or $25,” which would be “crucial to providing the advertising and get-out-the-vote programs our candidates need to fight back and win.”

The self-described hockey mom asked for the “$2,000, $1,000, $500, $250, $100, $50 or $25” on behalf of the Republican National Committee. The RNC can raise and spend unlimited sums on behalf of the McCain-Palin ticket.

The candidates themselves cannot raise money directly into their campaign accounts because McCain has agreed to accept an $84-million federal grant to help fund his campaign. And that money comes as soon as he accepts the nomination tonight.

Democrat Barack Obama was not far behind Palin.

At 3 a.m. today, the Democrat’s campaign sent out an e-mail saying: “I wasn't planning on sending you something tonight. But if you saw what I saw from the Republican convention, you know that it demands a response.”

The e-mail signed by campaign manager David Plouffe sought small-dollar donations, saying: “McCain's campaign has decided that desperate lies and personal attacks — on Barack Obama and on you — are the only way they can earn a third term for the Bush policies that McCain has supported more than 90 percent of the time. ...

"But you can send a crystal clear message. Enough is enough. Make your voice heard loud and clear by making a $5 donation right now."

The amounts raised by the appeals won't become clear until late October, when the campaigns must file their September fundraising reports.

— Dan Morain

Photo credit: Joshua Roberts / Bloomberg News

Comments

[steve]

I get emails nearly everyday from Obama asking for my money, what's the big deal?

[Peter]

Sarah Hit it out of the Park, Congrats Sarah Palin, Youll be a great Vice President., Or President for that matter. If you want to learn more about Sarah Palin or her Back Ground they have alot of Background Info, Pics, Videos, about Sarah and her Family. http://www.veeppeek.com The Next Big Scadal She will have to overcome will be her daughers, boyfriend. http://www.hotpres.com

[Tom]

PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."

THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."

Associated Press

[Mike]

What a load of crap. A candidate asked for campaign money. Oh wow, that's a real big news story. What a scoop! You guys are fishing for anything at all you can say to cast this woman in a negative light.

[Bill]

There is no question that I will heed Governor Palin's call for campaign donations as her speech has definitely energized me; however, when I make my donation, it will be to Senator Obama's campaign. We do not need another right wing conservative in the White House who believes everything for which she stands is "God's will." She is nothing more than Dick Chaney in a dress.

[Beatrice]

I'm Hillary's supporter and I will send my donation to McCain/Palin's campaign.

I'm so happy that Palin was picked. She is all we hope to have. Bad and/or good time we must proud for our Nation.

I'm happy Palin made this statement, whereas Michelle Obama has never been proud of her country, just this time when her husband runs for Prez created by the extreme leftist media.

They said nasty thing about Hillary now they do it again to Palin.

GO SARAH!! GOD Bless and be with you.

[RadianChalant]

It is unbelievable how the Republican party can tell lie after lie about Barack Obama and even about themselves. I already sent in my donation to Barack Obama, on 09/03/08. The Republicans will have more wars, everywhere around the world. Republicans win = United States demise. The Republicans are so negative. Barack for President.

[JOJO]

The party will be over tonight and the real talk and walk starts tomorw.

[Cory]

$500 for McCain/Palin...just sent! No Socialists in the White House!

[Original Pechanga]

Please LISTEN to Governor Palin. Support the Republican candidates. We need experience, not a community organizer to lead us. We need someone to VOTE for their positions, not to say present.

We need a WOMAN to do a man's job and she's certainly as qualified as the Democrats top of the ticket.

Uh, LAT, is there anything wrong with asking for money?

[Duke]

Do you think you could have any more of a biased headline?

She was on stage. Obviously she didn't send the request. A staffer sent it. You should try being a news organization, not the Enquirer.

[PFJ]

It didn't take long for conservative women like Peggy Noonan and Dr Laura to start trashing the VP Pick. RIghtfully so. You have already asked conservatives to prop up a happy face to try to cover up McCains abysmal choice, asking for money too is really pushing it.

[Inverse137]

OK, the neo-con whack jobs will jump on this but who really cares what they think anymore?

I actually like McCain. He is a good old fashioned Reagan republican. He is not one of these uneducated neo-con lunatics. He is not one of the dolts that destroyed my republican party.

Now, with that said, I can not begin to understand his logic in pick Palin. Other than the fact that she has breasts and is not to hard on the eyes she has no qualifications.

It is like Bush putting the Horse and Pony Show guy in charge of FEMA except this isn't cronyism.

She is Governor of the 47th most populated state in the Union. She was mayor of a town that had a population that couldn't fill most Minor League baseball parks. She has zero international experience and describes herself as a "hockey mom from Alaska."

Can you just picture the potluck state dinners?

[Inverse137]

OK, the neo-con whack jobs will jump on this but who really cares what they think anymore?

I actually like McCain. He is a good old fashioned Reagan republican. He is not one of these uneducated neo-con lunatics. He is not one of the dolts that destroyed my republican party.

Now, with that said, I can not begin to understand his logic in pick Palin. Other than the fact that she has breasts and is not to hard on the eyes she has no qualifications.

It is like Bush putting the Horse and Pony Show guy in charge of FEMA except this isn't cronyism.

She is Governor of the 47th most populated state in the Union. She was mayor of a town that had a population that couldn't fill most Minor League baseball parks. She has zero international experience and describes herself as a "hockey mom from Alaska."

Can you just picture the potluck state dinners?

[FC Newton]

A real woman and oh how the feminists hate her. This is so much fun to watch. Of course the LA Times cant find anything nice to say about her either. I'm glad I canceled my subscription long ago.

[RJinchi]

she had a chance to tell us what she is about, instead she kept to the speech writers and played into attacking a rival - very poor choices. Based on this - Obama will be getting my vote.

[Kathy]

Well, how dare those greedy republicans ask for money for their cause. After all, Obama's using only his own money right? You media types just can't stop spinning can you?

[Stephen Moore]

What an important news story! A political candidate asking for money, no less! The horror, the shame.

[For Paige & Emili]

You can diffuse the real issues if you want by smearing a 17 year old but realize every time you do there is a girl/woman somewhere in an identical situation and she has an entire family with a base of friends that will make you pay in November. This tact is making people see what true hypocrites you "open-minded" liberals are.

Besides trying to pull the same hatchet job on Sarah that you laid on Hillary, the incessant whining from the left is sooooooo predictable - 2000, 2004 and now in 2008 - makes me think the little hockey mom fit the moose antler right square in your *sses.

Got to absolutely love the comparison between "community organizer" and mayor. It does make you ponder –
1) Exactly how big a budget does a "community organizer" manage?
2) How many people are on the payroll of a "community organizer"?
3) What kind of public works projects does a “community organizer” get involved in?
4) Do you have to punch a time clock or just hang out on the street comer when you're a "community organizer"? Is that what those guys are doing in the low income neighborhoods who hang out at the intersections? Hell, I thought they were all selling crack.

So we have Sarah Palin who has managed a city, a state, took on special interest, fought corruption AND raised a family. Can you please explain what Norealjobama has been doing with his Ivy League education besides cavorting with racists and communists and “organizing communities”?

Joe Biden saying someone delivered a speech without substance is like saying Pete Rose claims there gambling in baseball. What an imbecile!!! The only speech Biden ever delivered with substance was the one in which he was nailed for plagiarism.

To me, the only question that remains is how many times team Nojobama/Biden soiled their pants during her pasting of all things phony. Start brushing up on your “community organizer” skills Nojobama; it looks like you’ll be looking for work come November. “Work”- sorry, didn’t mean to offend any liberals out there.

Please Sarah, nail their scrawny asses for every woman who has ever been minimized – including Hillary, the latest most public example.

[alternateuniverse]

John McCain is gaming the system whose rules he wrote. Big suprise. He takes 84,000,000 in tax dollars, criticises Obama for not taking public money, then continues to raise and spend money for the fall campaign as if there are no restrictions. Obama was right not to take tax payers money and to say that the Mccain-Fiengold campaign finance bill is a farce.

[Jill Sliverman]

The following picture of sarah shows her wearing two dead animals on her shoulder.

http://bp0.blogger.com/_eeBrCFDUUOc/R9XEbzkqrQI/AAAAAAAAAVY/BOPi0LKFI2k/s1600-h/Sarahwintercoat.jpg

Animal rights activists take note. This woman became governor of Alaska. She is willing to kill animals for their fur.

[Paul Bart]

I have never made political contributions... until recently.
I contributed $1,500 on Friday morning, when Sarah Palin for VP announcement was made. That morning, speaking to my friend, I learnt that she did exactly the same! And if necessary we will all contribute once again - all the way to the max!

[tIM]

Boy am I glad the writer of this article is not running for the GOP-- how would he raise money for his campaign?? What would he wait for???When would be the right time to ask for money? AND he wouldn't ask for large amounts because, why?
lol

[Bryan D.]

LA Slimes keeps reminding why I left LA after 2 decades!

[DFP]

Wow! A political ticket appealing for money!
What an eye-opening post, Dan!
Give me a break ... Where was your paper on that ABC reporter being arrested outside a hotel wanting to film big DNC donors? Hello?