I just received a fund raising email from David Plouffe on behalf of the Obama campaign. Here are some highlights:
McCain and the Republican National Committee released their fundraising numbers for May... The McCain campaign raised $21 million, which will be combined with $23.7 million raised in partnership with the Republican National Committee.
That's $45 million in one month... money that will be used to attack Barack Obama and support McCain’s efforts to extend the policies of George W. Bush...
Even more disturbing ...is the way they raised it.
They depend on donations from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs. And top officials in McCain's campaign have been asking donors to write checks ...to the tune of $50,000 each.
Barack is doing things differently.
This campaign has never accepted donations from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs. And yesterday the Democratic National Committee announced that they will follow the same restriction.
We are going to compete in the general election the same way we have all along -- by depending on a movement of more than 1.5 million people giving only what they can afford."
This letter appears to be a major announcement: Obama is not going to go the public financing route, even though reportedly he entered into an agreement with McCainto do so prior to the primaries taking place! This may cost him politically if McCain sticks with public funds or even if McCain opts out, pleading that Obama broke his word and did it first. But, public financing would play into the hands of the RNC because of their ability to raise money from wealthy conservatives. Obama can out-raise McCain in head-to head competition through Barack’s huge network of small supporters; but, what about the DNC? Can they keep pace? The Obama campaign will benefit from the money raised by the DNC. So here’s the bottom line question: Is a dollar given to the DNC a dollar that will help Barack Obama get elected and achieve a durable majority in Congress? If the answer is yes, should we consider going that route? Or is it better for the small donor to give directly to the Obama GE campaign unless one reaches the $2400 limit? I would think giving to Obama directly is the way to go for the small donor; but, I would like to hear what others think. As we all know, money talks.