B. Clinton, M. Obama, S. Palin, M. Romney seek last-minute money

(UPDATE: See below)

In case you've got some spare change after filling Barack Obama's campaign coffers with way more than $605 million this political season.

And chipping in another $10 last week like he asked. And a final $5 this week that he asked for. And another really final $5 that Michelle requested.

In case you've still got some checks left, Sarah Palin could use $5 million by Sunday night. And Bill Clinton is requesting only $189,000, which is less than two speeches for him. But he'd still like you to give it.

Just because you may be among the millions who've already voted doesn't mean you won't be asked to pay more before Tuesday. And, who knows, maybe after Tuesday to cover somebody's debts.

"Every dollar," says the nation's best-known hockey mom in an e-mail, "will help fund our final get-out-the-vote efforts." She notes the polls are tightening and raises the spectre of Democrats "spreading the wealth around."

And all we all know what that means (TAXES!)

Now, ex-president Clinton raises the spectre of Republicans "pulling out all the stops." He's afraid of an insufficiently Democratic Congress for President Obama. He wants large, veto-proof majorities in both houses.

And, oh, darn, we just noticed he set a deadline of 3 p.m. today. So we missed that.

But, wait! Just now we got another e-mail, this one from former Gov. Mitt Romney, who says at this moment he's in an airplane "somewhere over Nevada en route to New Mexico."

He says we can make a real difference fighting "the liberal turnout machine" by going to his PAC website, FreeStrongAmerica.com, checking the list of endorsed candidates and, if we can -- you guessed it -- make a last-minute donation.

Aren't we about out of last-minutes by now?

(UPDATE: Apparently not.

(Early Saturday morning we got yet another e-mail money plea, this one from Obama campaign manager David Plouffe, saying that he sensed some last-minute opportunities -- the campaign is starting a TV ad in McCain's homestate of Arizona Saturday.

(If we just gave $5 more, he threatened to put us in a lottery where the winner has to go to Chicago on election night to attend the Grant Park rally. Ah, Chicago's lakefront on a November night. Everybody's vacation dream.)

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credits: Chicago Tribune (M. Obama); Getty Images (S. Palin)

Comments

[frieda]

wow! 500 million is not enough for Obama ??now they want to milk people to death. don't they know we are in recession? what kind of sick game they are playing with offering raffle style fundraising!!!???

[Erin Dough]

This is a terribly written article. Your opening line isn't even a sentence. "Journalist" have stooped so low during this election until you've forgotten how to compose sentences? Remember, you need a verb and a noun? A sentence forms a complete thought. You left yours outside at the very onset.

I haven't given one cent to a political campaign ever in my life and didn't start with this election.

[Michele in Maine]

Surely you have a less menacing photo of Michelle Obama that you could have used with this article? Makes it look like your photo editor is a Republican.

[dragonfly777]

Obama is poisen. The Clinton's careers are over and they can be sure and file for Obama's welfare plans.

[crockett]

Campaigning does cost and it cost a lot, I understand that. The Democrates screem, stomp and holler at the fact that in thier words, "Big Businesses" suport Mccain and "Big Oil Companies" support McCain. Perhaps they do give some, but in no way near what Obama has been getting from who knows where....he doesn't have to report it, the sly little devil. But NOW eventhough he has abundance, he's asking the American people to dig deeper and give more. Has his mid-eastern backers run out? He burdens people like his Auntie Zeituni Onyango from Kenya, who gave $260.00 in small increments to her nephew's presidential bid. But now that she has been found to be in the US illegally, they say they are giveing it back. She listed her employer as the Boston Housing Authority and last gave $5 on 19 September. Now I am sure this money was not easy for her to come by...but she gave it! There are many more like her,who can barely make it and yet are being asked to give more. he is buying votes or what?

Yes I know McCain's campaign is also asking for last minute donations but no where near what the Obama campaign is asking. Personally, I have already voted, and I might give again, I quesion it right now. BUt enough is enough!

[PicabosMom]

I'll be glad to donate to M. Obamas cause.... what zoo is it? I'll earmark my donations directly to the primate exibit.