With $605 million already, Obama asks only $10 more from each of us

Having hauled in a record $208,333 every hour of every day last month -- $150 million in all -- plus a few more unreported millions so far this month, Barack Obama is worried that he might come up short in the political money war with the John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket.

Just to relieve himself of that $150 million before the polls open, Obama will have to spend $12.5 million a day.

But he needs some more.

And, according to an e-mail plea to supporters, tonight's the absolute deadline to donate $10 more and receive your special edition Official Obama-Biden car magnet.

Having now collected more than $605 million altogether, the freshman senator shows no concern over the appearance of buying the presidency. Imagine for a moment the national political conversation that could be going on now if rich Republicans had raked in that much loot for one campaign.

Obama's team is so well-funded and well-organized it has spread its political web into one-time red states, forcing McCain to defend them with his measly $84.1 million in federal funds.

Obama aides privately profess profound concern that additional financial resources from the Republican National Committee could make the GOP ticket competitive in the closing days. And the Cincinnati Bengals are a real Super Bowl threat this year.

"The race is deadlocked in a number of crucial battleground states," the urgent e-mail proclaims, "including Ohio, Missouri and Indiana. And we're neck-and-neck in Florida, North Carolina and Nevada.

"We have to make our final, tough decisions about where to fight and how strong we can make our team. And those choices will depend on the financial resources we have."

And, hey, if there's a few hundred million dollars left over in the campaign coffers on Nov. 5, win or lose, maybe Obama would like to put it toward the immense federal budget deficits that our colleague Stephen Braun warns this morning will confront the hopes and current plans of either an Obama or McCain White House come Jan. 21.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Comments

[reto444]

republicans are jealous not only because of size of money obama campaign raised, but because such size of money indicates the numbers of supporters who contributed that much, 10s of millions are sending obama money to win... never in history happened such support base .. mccain in hundred years would never raise half of this money cause nobody care for his candidacy .. expect an obama win with big margin, can we say 70-30 :)

[El]

Shame on you and the LA Times for pretending this is journalism. The real story is where he got most of his donations--from millions and millions of individuals like me who have never donated to any presidential campaign before. Why? While he may not be as populist as we'd like, may not be everything we want, he has indeed become a symbol of the America we the real working people want--an undivided, intelligent, caring, creative, and inclusive America.

[Barbyrah]

Dear Andrew,

For some of us, WHERE the money comes from (the "who") is far more important than the HOW MUCH controversy you are attempting to stir.

And let me tell ya: "Delightful" doesn't even begin to describe what it feels like to be one of those three plus million - and growing! - folk whose average contribution is $86.

Quite simply: The Obama campaign has truly transformed the political process; perhaps someday you might be able to view through a different lens and in so doing, see it as something to celebrate rather than something to deride.

Take care.

[30K middle american]

Thanks for the tip, Andrew. I'll head over and donate my $10 now. You are just being ridiculous - this is sour grapes over the fact that Obama has such a groundswell of grassroots support that he hasn't *need* some fat cat friends to make huge donations to make his campaign flush, like a republican. He just needs to reach out to us average American people and we are happy to give because we are sick to death of toxic Republican presidencies. The republicans have done enough damage these last 8 years, we're ready to give the democrats a try. They couldn't be worse.

[Brian Fobian]

Number don't lie. Pathetic and concerning regardless of which political party spends that much $ to become the next president.

[erick]

Wow someone seems to be angry at the fact that McCain is not doing that well. Oh well just keep the complaints at the complaint desk please.

[WOI]

Catfish, it is absolutely NOT TRUE that politicians "get to keep all the left over campaign funds".

[John VV]

Well, how much is all the positive news about John McCain and Sarah Palin worth on Fox News? Fox News does not charge the McCain-Palin campaign anything for their non-stop, every program promotion of McCain-Palin and smearing of Obama-Biden. If caluclated at national TV ad rates--and not even counting the salaries of mouthpieces like O'Reilly, Hannity, and the morning show bozos--Murdock and Fox News have alone outspent the Obama-Biden campaign.
JVS

[Debbie Foster]

This should be a clear signal to all of us how freely Obama will go through our hard earned tax dollars. Spending at records levels, and then asking for more when he is only a candidate is shameful. Already a master in the art of persuasion, imagine the power he'll command if he becomes president. What will he "ask" for then?

[Independent]

If he can't manage to win a campaign with $605 million, how is he going to run the country?

[tech john]

I think that it is completely ridiculous that Obama needs $10 dollars more from anybody. Let me clarify that I am and undecided voter leaning towards Obama, but it outrageous to believe that he needs a penny more. My wife and I both have good jobs a home 2 cars and are a typical american couple. I look at what Obama is doing and I just see "GREED" He should spend that money on what really matters most "THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA" We cannot even dream of haing children because we are just breaking even with school debt, motgage , car payments and so forth. If Obama had any resolve he would take that 600 million and give $50.000 to 20,000 american families who need the money and quit doing hate adds. This goes for Mcain as well. I know that there will be supporters and haters about what I said, but its the truth and I said it. Obama and Mcain "QUIT "TALKING AND START DOING" Tahnk you for reading my article.

[Gina]

I don't think this is a particularly well-written, sophisticated article, but as an Obama supporter, I'm concerned about this 'need' for such immense amounts of cash. Seriously, our economy is the worst its been in decades. I can barely keep food on the table. The federal government just arranged an enormous bailout and though Barack Obama needs more money? My respect and support would increase tenfold if he encouraged people to take care of their families and he would run a more fiscally responsible campaign - making the most of the money that hard-working Americans have already donated. Everyone has been saying since the primaries that the success of a future president can be measured by how they manage their campaigns. Barack Obama has raised more than any other presidential candidate in history - the amounts he's collected are obscene - and he's asking for more? He could stop all fundraising efforts now and still come out ahead of McCain not only in money but in votes. The old myth about democrats is that they 'tax and spend' - what's Obama doing right now to undermine that notion? As a voter and an Obama supporter I find the excess to be almost gluttonous and not very flattering of a candidate who espouses 'good judgement'.

[Heather]

Mr. Malcolm, if your goal was snark, you achieved it. But this piece is useless as journalism, because it doesn't have enough facts. The big, important missing fact is where the money came from. One of Sen. Obama's greatest claims to our attention is his ability to convince ordinary middle-class people to give everything they can, in money and time. The difference between a few wealthy donors and millions of small donors is a huge one, and is the difference between Democrats and Republicans, at least this year.

[Concerned]

Obama needs $10 more from each of us? But, he can spend $105K on just a few meals? Come on, he has no concern and does not relate to the average American where that $10 can mean the difference between another meal on our table? Typical liberal way of life..."me, me and more for me". Obama wants to "spread the wealth" around for US??? If that is true, why doesn't he make an example out of himself and give some of his money to McCain to make this a fair fight, after all he was able to acquire it by stabbing McCain in the back. The only one HE wants to spread the wealth around for his himself.

[dan]

Vote for capitalism! Obama even practices socialism in campaign finance!

[Derek]

I hate beggars... especially ones that have the name Obama! Let him dig it out of his own pocket if he wants to be president so bad.

[bob]

Keeping all that little preson money could put him in the 250k tax braket. I wonder how he'll hide it?

[JD]

Democracy for sale??? That arguement has been going on for too long. The real issue involves the idiots that have a vote in this country and are too lazy to investigate the issues themselves.

Candidates advertise because voters actually respond to a 30 second ad. Wake up America, this decision is not anything like choosing Tide over Wisk. This actually matters, so get of your 'super sized' lazy asses and do some research. These candidates are nothing alike so deciding based on the issues should be quite easy, if you take the time to read both positions.

If americans bothered to investigate the issues....the candidates actual positions...than the value of 30 second blurbs would be muted. In fact, informed voters might bring an end to the otherwise usless TV advertising. Moreover, those that are swayed by ads should have voting priviledges revoked. But alas, we are a united nation of lazy idiots.

[ned]

Thanks for the update. I just gave an additional ten dollars to the campaign.

[Curt]

Sounds like more whinnig from the straight picket fence crowd!All about control.

[Moss MN]

Uhm...I see the big black hole in your brain...

You sound like you are not happy McCain is not raising as much, and then your hard feeling about the prospect of Obama wining the presidency with superior fundraising plan seems to have taken away from doing your job as a self appointed journalist to sounding a sore losser. The great tradigy of this misleading blog is the fact that over 600K people have given to Obama, because they are SICK of what the republicans have done to this country!

Moss MN
Change we badly need!
American desparetly need Obama.
Obama is now your mama
its your turn to keep quite while if fixes your mess, then you can thank him later!

[Innocent Bystander]

Keep in mind he gets to keep the money to do it all again in 4 years, when Sarah Palin will want to be your next President... GOD HELP US ALL!

[Matt W]

You know in Australia every running party is given a set sum of money to use for campaigning and thats it, no donations other than that, ;) people can still help in the campaigns by getting out there but hey thats just a better system, we're talking about america, the greatest two horse race in existance.

so i'll now get into that xD i get those very msgs cause i signed up for them.
anyone who signed up for those emails gets the requests for donations.
big whoop, the entire idea is that people who want to support obama any way they can and dont just go on about the money, theres plenty of ways to get involved, you didnt mention those.
hell i live on the otherside of the world and id happily get on the phones and tell people why obama is better for
A) the economy and
B) foreign affairs.
sure mccain was a POW (thats a brilliant reason to elect some one btw, gotta have really given his mental health a boost) and seems to be the sort who would know how to deal with threats... but obama would eliminate the majority of threats outside the us just by being president.

Muslim extremists will go "hey! finally someone who is reasonable" lol

well not that exactly but im trying to impart the idea of how he's the diplomat you NEED
BADLY lol
no one likes america anymore ;) GO BLUE DAMNIT.

oh and back to my previous comment
america needs an MMP system.. having 2 parties only chokes democracy so much.
party politics is a joke.
ah well ;)

[Innocent Bystander]

Keep in mind he gets to keep the money to do it all again in 4 years, when Sarah Palin will want to be your next President... GOD HELP US ALL!

[Mark Ballard]

I am here to change politics....I am going to change America..... I am here for the "middle Class"..... over a half a BILLION for a 1 year campaign. Does anyone else on either side of the ploitical spectrum see anything amazingly wrong with this?

We have got to get control of the amount of money collected and spent on Presidencial, Congressional and local politics. It is absurd that thius much money is being spent on these campaigns. We all need to push for monatary limits on political campaigns. Wed all need to mandate all candidates much give back to retire American debt what is not spent.

It is making me sick to think of how much Obama and Mccain have wasted. How many "friends" and cronies that own ad companies, printing companies, direct mail companies, t shirt companies, tv & radio stations etc... are making on this ridiculousness? How much is being kicked back to the candidate or others on each persons team? How much will be going to support the privtae wastgeful spending of each candidate (ie: Lobster, Champagne & Caviar at 4pm for the Obamas in NYC). I am sure the Mccain bunch is living high on the hog as well.

We all need to realize it is not right versus left. It is Politicians versus the voters. The politicians are taking power at every turn and we are letting them do it!

Wake Up America!