Call me a prophet or call me a crank, but I'm gonna make a wild prediction based on a modicum of evidence, unnamed Broder-esque sources (the voices in my head) and a larger portion of what Kos likes to call "pulling it out of my ass":
Obama is going to raise $100 Million in primary money per month until the convention, spend every last cent of it before August swamping John Mccain and announce at the convention that he's going to take public financing. From that point on, his whole fundraising machinery will be handed over to the DNC.
What am I basing this on?
- Obama's recent steps to more closely link his own fundraising with the DNC, through bundles and more.
- His requirement that all funds presently raised still be for the primary.
- His enigmatic statements about his maybe promise to take public financing.
- Recent reports that he has the potential to raise $100 Million in June and July.
- Obama's stance as the "clean candidate".
- The comments of the aforementioned gluteus maximus.
Obama probably doesn't want to be "out-reformed" by Mccain. Even if Mccain's stab at reform is actually a pathetic concession that he'll never raise as much money as Obama, it still gives him a slight lever against Obama's squeaky clean image. If Obama really has the ability to spend $200 Million defining Mccain in the next two months, it seems like he could have his cake and eat it too. And with his 1.6 Million (or whatever it is now) funders turning their attention to the DNC through his own urgings, the DNC would suddenly be flush enough to take over the job.
I measure this possibility somewhat by my own tendencies. Much to my regret, I've never donated to the DNC, despite being an old-school Deaniac. Don't know why, just never felt motivated by a particular moment in time. However, if Obama asks me to give to the DNC with a link in an email, I certainly will. Gladly. Imagine this ask:
"I have decided to take public financing to help send a message about the role of money in campaigns. Thank you for all you've done, and if you feel the urge to still help out, my buddy Howard at the ole DNC could use a few bucks."
You think the DNC would trail the RNC anymore?
Anyway, you heard it hear first...well, I heard it first late at night from the little voice in my bedroom, but you heard it second.