The Candidates
Mark Halperin is reporting that the McCain Campain and the RNC ended the month of June with a combined $95 million CoH, which is being touted as double the amount of the Obama Campaign and the DNC.
Team McCain also reported that the campaign raised more than the $22 million they totaled in May.
Where’s Obama’s figures? I eagerly await their release.
Read Halperin’s full report here.
H/T- Iowa
July 10th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Happy dance.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/autumnlarrick4/Dancing_Banana.gif
Rick Davis did some trash talking as he released McCain’s numbers. This is very good.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
This is all very encouraging.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
WOO-HOO. I know of at least one liberal Democrat who plans to vote for McCain strictly because of the campaign finance issue. He’s angry with Obama for not keeping the promise to abide by spending limits.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
They have more money on hand, have $10 million less in expenses, and have outspend on advertising by a 3:1 margin over the last two months? I like everything but that last part, because if they’re outspending on advertising by that much and STILL trail in the polls, there’s a problem. I guess we can chalk it up to nobody tuning in at this point…
July 10th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
This is also the case with Sununu in New Hampshire. He hasn’t spent much at all and has far more on hand than Shaheen. The Sununus spend their money late. His father did that against Hugh Gallen in 1982, and Sununu did that both for the House in 1996 and for the Senate in 2002. It appears McCain is doing the same thing. Sununu is still the underdog, but he does have that advantage.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
3, That liberal Democrat wouldnt be Russ Feingold would it?
July 10th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I hope McCain outraised Obama…
July 10th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Sampo, Feingold may think it’s a mistake, I don’t think he’s publicly backing McCain though, is he? This was just a liberal I know personally, not an elected official or anyone well-known.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Feingold is a man of principle as far as practicing what he preaches on campaign finance and some of his votes where he broke with his party. I saw him speak a couple times in NH in 2005-2006 and was never that impressed. He’s just your typical stuffy liberal.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I am really beginning to believe that may have happened. We’ll see…
My guess is that Obama will release his figures as late tomorrow as possible to get the story buried over the weekend.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
So the math is:
McCain raised about $22 mill
had this COH $27 mill
equalling $49 mill
meaning the RNC COH $95-49 = $46 million
Davis says McCain has been outspending Obama 3:1 on ads. How can all those things be true?
July 10th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
If Obama’s campaign is releasing their numbers Friday afternoon, it’s not good news.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
11, I think Obama’s massive staff is draining him of much of his money.
Clarence, nah, the Russ Feingold thing was a joke. It’s pretty shocking to hear a Democrat of his stature say something like that.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
So here’s the foxnews headline: IS SEN MAJ LDR HINGING HE’S OPEN TO MORE OFFSHORE DRILLING
holy moly. i think they music could stop playing at any moment and Barack Obama will be the only one left standing….
July 10th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Rasmussen Reports: A Plurality of Americans Support a Military Response If Iran Attacks Israel
In the wake of recent missile tests, 71% of American voters say that Iran represents a serious threat to the United States and 82% believe that nation is a threat to Israel. Those figures include 30% who consider Iran a Very Serious threat the United State and 56% who see it as a Very Serious threat to Israel.
Do you believe the U.S. should intervene militarily if Israel is attacked by Iran?
Yes 46%
No 32%
Men overwhelmingly support a military response while women are evenly divided.
Among Republicans
Yes 70%
No 12%
Among Democrats
Yes 30%
No 45%
Unaffiliated voters are evenly divided.
Survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted July 9th.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Davis says McCain has been outspending Obama 3:1 on ads. How can all those things be true?
I don’t know how this works, but is it possible that they’ve made ads and paid for their air time, but they just haven’t run yet?
July 10th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
holy shiznit! obama forgot to ask donors to help hillary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnNDmcZz5Wo
I guess that’s a problem when all you think about is yourself.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Sampo,
Sounds to me like the dems are moving to cut off McCain at the pass and take his only winning issue off the table.
Obama will soon back off shore drilling, knowing McCain will never go further by going for ANWR and McCain will left holding the bag.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
here’s a better video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z56H5ZmQS0M
July 10th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Stay the course, Obama. Stay the course.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Aron,
I’m telling you, Democrats are an unfathomable breed. Only 30% of them support a military response if Iran ATTACKS Israel? Umm, do Democrats realize that Iran doesn’t actually share a border with Israel, and therefore if Iran is “attacking” Israel, they’re actually launching missiles at them (presumably missiles with nuclear capacity)? So Iran is launching nuclear missiles at Israel and we’re, what, negotiating? Unreal. If McCain gets elected with this electorate, it’ll be an absolute miracle.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Now that Obama’s campaign knows what the number is that they have to beat, they can all get guse cooking their books.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Ad’s = McCain is defining Obama and McCain is defining himself. This will pay off in 2 months.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
How delicious would it be if Obama’s decision to skip public financing becomes the biggest strategic mistake in the history of modern presidential elections?
What do you guys think? Is it possible that he might not be able to raise significantly more than McCain’s public 84 million? And how much time would he have to waste raising said money while McCain legitimately campaigns?
July 10th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Patrick,
I’ve speculated here before that Obama will just flop back & take that $85 Million Federal funds if he really needs to. He could do & say anything he wants and get away with it.. Few seem to care how he changes his positions.
Obama got surprisingly little negative press coverage for breaking his commitment to accept federal funds. I suppose he would get even less negative treatment for coming back around full circle.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
25,
That’s what I don’t get. I mean, he’d sorta have to go back to public financing, but that would be the biggest flip-flop yet (possibly in the history of flip-flops for political gain). While I can’t fathom how the talking heads could not be all over it, the cynic in me believes that you’re right: the MSM will just sit back and ignore it.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
#24, dead on, most of McCain visits in the last two months were to non-battleground states, now McCain is viting Ohio every week, etc..Obama will have to do the opposite. Obama went to New York to raise $, while McCain was in the mid-west.
Obama thinks he can move to the right so he cannot be tagged as a Liberal, and he may be correct. But what will the sacrifice be? His small donors online become less motivated. They will still vote for him, but they won’t see him on TV or hear him on radio. How many Democratic contributors have already hit the limit for donations?
Campaign finanace reform may have saved McCain and the GOP this year! Go figure! HA!
So, who needs Romney’s money?
July 10th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
“So, who needs Romney’s money?”
Sounds like bob bought (pun intended) into the idea that no one would want Romney if it weren’t for his money.
In fact, Romney’s already been out fundraising, as has President George W. Bush. You think McCain is raising this money himself???
July 10th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
This would have been a great story for today, but I was just watching Hardball and Jim Cramer (who I thought supported McCain) and Pat Buchanan just savaged McCain over Gramm’s remarks.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Yikes. Hillary’s donors are making quite an impact on the money race. But Gramm’s comments will haunt McCain for many news cycles to come. Cash won’t help with utterly insensitive comments.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
July 10th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Maybe it gives McCain a sister souljah moment of his ownm
Although I think we saw once more why Gramm flamed out in 96
July 10th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Ann Romney won’t let Mitt Romney spent anymore of his personal fortune on running for President (he said so himself). Much less Vice President.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
18
jim, I commend you for staying on this in every thread. I am starting to get nervous that this is going to happen inside of two weeks with how reckless Oprahma has been bullrushing toward the middle at a breakneck speed.
The clown we are running against inspires confidence in me that we can win when we have no business winning at all. But the lack of a theme or coherent message at this late stage and having had 4 months to create one drives me insane. I really think McCain should go up to the portion of ANWR that could be drilled show the American people the only thing worth looking at in that tiny section is Sarah Palin standing next to him to give her some press for this year or 2012. THEN he can reverse his stance and (like Newt suggests) be on the side of 80% of the American people while smiling.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I think Pat Buchanan has been at MSNBC too long. Last night, he was comparing Obama to Reagan and said Obama will take every undecided voter after the debates. Chris Matthews agreed with him of course.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
34, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blnduEgwBH0
enough said.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Please, please let the Obama Campaign be that stupid. You want Obama’s support to crater among his own party? Have him flip-flop on drilling. Many, many Dems would develop serious buyers remorse at that point.
Don’t forget which wing of the Party is responsible for Obama’s nomination.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
BTW, I’m not necessarily posting on drilling because I think it’s the cure all for high gas prices, although I do think it will help.
It is literally the only issue right now where the public is on the side of the GOP and against the democrats. The only one.
I mean it just makes political sense that if 75%+ of the public supports position A, and you’re running against and are a few pts behind a guy who supports position B, and the issue involved is the #1 issue in the election and will only grow in importance, that you have a real opportunity to make up ground and daifferentiate yourself.
McCain said a few words about drilling a few weeks ago and has done nothing since. Nothing. He could have gone to ANWR, could have toured a few off shore sites, could have spent every day so that every one knows he’s with the 75%+ who support drilling and Obama is with the 20% and less who oppose it, could have united the entire party and driven a message that would not only help him but help the congresional races and nationalized the election a la the Contract in 94…instead he spent a few days in Columbia and Mexico and went to LULAC
July 10th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
36,
Bingo. Moonbats own Barack Obama. The wingnuts don’t own McCain.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
The public is demanding offshore drilling, but they’re evenly divided on ANWR drilling. For good reason too –the OCS has like 10 times as much (or more) oil.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Kavon, after all of Obama’s flops thus far, I don’t think him moving to center on drilling will dake any shine off his halo.
I don’t think he’ll go for ANWR. He’ll go for off shore drilling along with other measures aimed at conservation and alternative energy and nuclear power. 50% of dems already back it. Even Durbin and Reid have been putting out feelers on it. A number of dems in the house support it. Of the other 50% some of the hard core left might not be happy, but he’ll more than make up for it among the independents and by neutralizing what might be McCain’s only winning issue.
McCain needed to own drilling and oil like Obama does hope and change. I just see him wasting opportunities and not taking advantage of it. Mainly I think it’s because his heart isn’t really into it and his move to the right was pretty much pandering in the first place but once you’ve dipped your toes in you may as well go all in.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I tend to agree with Kavon. If Obama caves on drilling then the enthusiasm for him from the kook fringe leftwing base is going to go down a noticeable couple of notches. Considering that the yuppies and the blacks are the only two groups really gung ho about the man to begin with, and the rest of the Democrats are only lukewarm to him - it would *really* drive away the Magic O’s advantage in the enthusiasm gap. If McCain exploits such a boneheaded move on the part of team Barry by consolidating support within the party even just a tad more, I really believe he could close the popular vote gap. We’re only talking about a handful of points now anyway.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
jim,
He’ll still be *reacting* to McCain. That won’t go over well with the left. Especially after Obama’s FISA disappointment (to them). It will remind them of his backpedaling on other issues, and the Right will have one more opportunity to showcase Obama as another typical politician with negotiable virtues.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I’m enjoying reading the pros and cons of an Obama flip flop on off shore drilling. The only thing I know for certain is that I’m woefully incapable of putting myself into the mind of a raving moonbat.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
I hope Obama doesn’t pull one of his “change that works for him” moments on offshore drilling. As Jim says, it is about the only issue the public backs the GOP.
But if he does, his 6/20/08 comments criticizing McCain’s decision to support drilling MAY come back to haunt him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8fkbEuCQss
It seems that he factored in high gas prices, thought out his position (however misguided), and specifically stated he wouldn’t change his mind based on polls.
Although, I suspect if Obama were to again “refine” yet another position and support offshore drilling, he would get yet another pass.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I don’t know - I’m with all of you that think that Obama has gotten the kid glove treatment with the media. But Obama has already been running campaign commercials against McCain in swing states calling him wrong on drilling (I’ve seen them, in PA, over the weekend). It’s one thing to shift positions on an issue. It’s another to do so on something where you’ve already spent money arguing for the opposite position in the space of a month.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Moonbats and Kos own Obama? Sure.
That’s why he led the fillibuster on their cause celebre FISA bill. That’s why he was one of the stongest voices speaking out against the 2nd Amendment decision and defending the death penalty decision. That’s why he strongly denounced the religiosity of the faith based initiatives and maintained his support for the separation of church and state. That’s why he’s test driving his Iraq flop and getting ready to switch after meeting with Petareaus and going to Iraq. That’s why he’s moved to the middle on so many things I’ve lost track of them. The left doesn’t own Obama. He owns them. He’s the Pied Piper and they’re just following the tune.
As for ANWT, the Pew Poll on July 1 had 50% supporting it(up from 42 in Feb). Opposition has dropped from 50 to 43. It’s gone from -8 to +7 in 4 months. That’s a 15 pt swing. By Labor Day it’ll probably be closer to 60 than 50 and by Election Day it’ll be above 60. And McCain will still be talking about his pristine paradise of 3 sqaure miles out of 30,000 that’s above the arctic circle and the tree line that no one goes to and is under darkness 6 months out of the year, comparing it to the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone.
60 to 34 say it’s more important to develop new supply than to protect the environment. Support among dems for more drilling has jumped 16 pts in 4 months. Among independents 19. Among liberals 23 pts. Among 18-29 it’s gone up by 25 pts. Obama, Axelrod and Plouffe can read the polls just like I can.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I don’t think Kos and his ilk own Obama - but I think he can only stray too far off the reservation before it starts to hit him where it hurts.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Bush did not define Kerry over night, and in fact many of these same comments were being made in 2004, “he would get yet another pass”.
The RCN has tens of millions of dollars to use to define Obama. Do not worry, give it time.
On September 26 McCain will turn to Obama and say;, “you are correct Senator, you are the candidate of …change”.
Debates;
September 26: First CPD Presidential Debate at the University of Mississippi on domestic policy.
October 2: Vice Presidential Debate at Washington University in St. Louis on domestic and foreign policy.
October 7: Second CPD Presidential Debate at Belmont University will be in a town meeting format and will include any issues raised by members of the audience.
October 15: Third CPD Presidential Debate at Hofstra University on foreign policy.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Yeah, unless he’s got Captain Hairgel on the ticket with him…
July 10th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
46. touche. Moonbats gave Obama his primary victory. Wingnuts did everything they could to deny McCain a primary victory. Per Obama and the moonbats, it remains to be seen who owns who.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
#49, LOL!
July 10th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
40
After Obama comes out in favor of some moderate, environmentally-sound form of drilling, the media will spin it that Obama supports “the correct type of drilling that all of America can get behind” That is what worries me.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
And how’s Barry web traffic lately? How’s his fundraising been doing? How are those daily tracking polls been going?
Barry’s move to the right is hurting him with his base. We are just at the very, very beginning of being to make an empirical case for this. It will get worse, not better, from here.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
49, John McCain-Johnny Bravo 2008?
July 10th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Haha, sampo. I love it.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
something else to throw into the obama-drilling mix. i think obama must be the one to first call for expanded drilling. if the house and senate leadership lead the charge and he hops on the bandwagon, he’ll look like a really pathetic follower.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
And if Obama does want to try to get on the side of the public on the drilling issue he’s going to have to do it soon. After Labor Day - when Joe Six Pack awakens from his quadrennial slumber - it’s just not going to fly.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
When I get worrying too much about the American people not even noticing Obama’s utter lack of character, I try to remind myself that the Dems peddled the “culture of corroption” thing for months before the public bought it (with the help of the congressional page scandal). I still believe that if that scandal had not happened the Reps would still control the Senate and would have had a shot at keeping the House.
It’s hard but I’m trying to be patient.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
48, bush didnt define kerry overnight.
that’s a good point. i followed 2004 pretty closely and I think the first time I heard the infamous “I voted for it before I voted against it” quote was during the RNC rally. Laura Bush maybe? That was just days before the election.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
#58 Terry,
McCain is at his best in the stretch run. He will be working 24/7, giving fiery speeches at Town Hall events, going after Obama. McCain will get a larger boost from the VP choice than Obama because the biggest issue for McCain is age, for Obama, race.
McCain will be able to pick someone younger, intelligent, and reassuring. Obama can pick an older white guy, but I am sure it will have less impact on his main negative. Proof of this is the fact that the McCain VP searhc has received much more headlines and speculation that Obama’s.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
#53 re web traffic, I had just heard a report on this so I knew there were fresh numbers. Here is what I found
“Obama’s Web site had 2.3 million unique visitors in May, compared to 563,000 for McCain, Nielsen reported. The May numbers are the latest data released by The Nielsen Co. subsidiary on traffic to the Web sites of the two presumptive presidential nominees.”
July 10th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
The far left base is irrelevant.
Obama isn’t winning because of them. He’s winning because of the heavy anti-Bush and anti-GOP feeling that would put pretty much any dem in the lead as well as the fact that he hasn’t pissed off the middle enough.
Kerry had the support of the far left. They hated Bush and the GOP as much as they do now.
Obama will move on it, Durbin, Reid and others will have his back. Instead of 100% among the Kos crowd, he’ll slip to 90%. Big Deal.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Boehner leads energy trip to Alaska, Colorado
July 10th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
The far left base is irrelevant?! Moveon.org calls our commanding general in Iraq a traitor and the two leading Democratic candidates are scared sh*tless to confront them! Obama is willing to meet with dictators, but not one major Democrat candidate agreed to debate on foxnews. wise up there jim.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Lee Ryder,
Obama rapped up the nomination in May, had a bounce in the polls. It wouldn’t be that surprising that his internet numbers were big. (especially compare to McCain, whose supporters are generally older and less tech savy). But what would be interesting is to see what effect, if any, his ever growing list of policy abandonments, or as he says “refinements,” have had on his web-site traffic & money. Are his June website numbers out?
July 10th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
64
you need to remember that happened during the dem nomination fight. Its over, Obama won. Now he doesn’t have to listen to them anymore, just like he didn’t today with FISA’s telecom immunity provision.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
66, he stabbed them in the back. will his new slogan be “back stabees for Barack”?
July 10th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I have a different opinion on Sen. Obama’s FISA vote. If he were only representing liberal Illinois he would have voted no, but since he is running as the dem nominee he had to vote yes in order to show an ability to make decisions contrary to his party’s base. I respect that.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Battle for the ’Burbs
How Republicans can compete for the upper middle class
by Ross Douthat & Reihan Salam
July 10th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
MSNBC Video: Giuliani: Obama Captures Anti-American Feeling
July 10th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
70 HA! proof positive MSNBC isn’t listening to a word Obama says. “but what about globalization”… but “but isn’t it good to be bilingual”.
GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE QUOTE RETARD MORNING JOE!
July 10th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
“Why I Can No Longer Vote for Barack Obama“
July 10th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
“Absolutely, this progressive will not vote for Obama“
July 10th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
What are the odds that the delegates would turn on Obama and go with Hillary?
Aside from the super delegates, are all others from all states fully committed?
July 10th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
The Problem With V.P. Romney
July 10th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
64,
They were very relevant when he wanted to lock up the nomination, but now not so much.
A majority of dems support drilling as it is now. I don’t think he’ll vote for ANWR. He’ll get behind drilling as part of a deal. He won’t necessarily back it himself but he’ll support whatever deal the Senate Dems come up with and he’ll look reasonable on the issue and neutralize it.
MoveOn and all the rest were gung Ho on FISA and Obama told them to pound sand. He’s playing for the middle now.
Boehner’s trip is a good idea. But, just think how much more coverage it would get and attention it would get if GOP Presidential nominee John McCain led a trip to ANWR and some off shore sites?
July 10th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Mary Landrieu was on Kudlow talking about a possible deal on drilling that excludes ANWAR. Mark Pryor was on tv earlier saying the same thing. So I actually think Congress will cut a deal to innoculate themselves for the election.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Kevon are the governors not about to meet in Philly? Is race42008 going to cover it? I deleted my rcp link and replaced with this site.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Anyone here want to bet me that Obama won’t support and vote for the said congressional deal on drilling?
no matter what the kos kids and netroots say
you all know he will