Election Central Morning Roundup
Strategist: Obama Could Raise Up To Half A Billion!
Barack Obama's decision to forego public financing might just net him a whole lot more than the $80 million the government would have given him, with Dem strategist Tad DeVine saying that his small-donor base could bring in as much as $500 million. Even half that amount would allow him to fight in states previously considered off-limits for Democrats, and to really overpower John McCain if the Republican is unable to match it.
Is Obama's Decision The End Of Public Finance?
The New York Times writes this morning that Barack Obama's decision to opt out of public finance may just be the end of the system as we know it. "Mr. Obama has made the argument that he has achieved online what the public finance system has been unable to do," the paper says. "And he has been freed from the necessity of spending countless hours fund-raising."
Obama And McCain To Hold Dueling Press Conferences Today
Barack Obama will be holding a 4:30 p.m. ET press conference today in Jacksonville, Florida, where the subject of campaign finance is sure to come up with some very pointed questions -- and perhaps some very pointed answers. John McCain will hold his own 1:40 p.m. ET presser from Ottawa, Canada, where he's making a speech on the virtues of free trade.
Obama Calls Two Muslim Women, Apologizes For Snub At Rally
Barack Obama yesterday personally called two Muslim women who were refused the honor of sitting behind him at a Michigan rally, due to volunteers not wanting their headscarves in view of the cameras. We both immensely appreciate the senator's phone call and his commitment to remedy this issue," one of the women told the Detroit Free Press.
Jeb Bush Changes Position, Defends McCain On Offshore Drilling
John McCain's position on offshore drilling is causing very prominent Florida Republican Jeb Bush, to change his long-held opposition. "You can protect the natural resources and the coastline of the state and also be part of national effort to deal with a national security crisis that our country faces right now," Jeb told reporters.
Pennsylvania School District Might Sue Hillary Campaign For Unpaid Bills
The Erie, Pennsylvania, school district is still waiting on a $3,887 bill from the Clinton campaign, for a rally with Bill Clinton held way back on March 12. If it's not paid soon, an administrator told the Erie Times News, it will be referred to their lawyers.
Dem Incumbent Leads In Top-Tier House Race
A new SurveyUSA poll of Indiana's 9th House District gives incumbent Democrat Baron Hill a 51%-40% lead over Republican opponent Mike Sodrel, in a district that went for President Bush by nearly 20 points in 2004. This year's contest is their fourth consecutive match-up, with Hill winning in 2002, losing to Sodrel in 2004, then coming back in 2006.
Nice work Eric! Is this going to be a daily thing like over at Muckraker?
June 20, 2008 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
It will indeed be a daily feature. We used to do these until fall of last year, and we've now decided to bring them back.
June 20, 2008 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Eric this round up is certainly fantastic. Its safe to say you guys are really on a roll. Thanks for this feature and we look forward to the next round up. Nice one Eric!!
June 20, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed, really good feature Eric. Well done and much appreciated.
June 20, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I really like this morning roundup idea. Great way to kick-off the day and talk about some smaller stories that may not deserve their own post.
June 20, 2008 9:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I like as well. Only one minor thing. Typo in the last paragraph. You typed President Busy. Kind of funny, he sure wasn't busy working for the american people. However, on the other hand, I guess you could say that he was busy shredding the constitution and screwing things up. Either way very funny.
June 20, 2008 9:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for spotting it. Fixed.
June 20, 2008 9:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
No prob. I still think it was a funny and freudian typo.
June 20, 2008 9:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know how Hillary would have expected to be a viable general election candidate with her money problems. Here in the same block of stories we have the possibility that Obama could raise as much as $500 million, and Hillary still being unable to pay her bills from months ago. Her campaign was basically crippled with mismanagement, if she had somehow squeaked out a victory in the primaries I think her campaign would be about where McCain's is now, circling the drain.
June 20, 2008 9:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
First I read 'billion' then I saw it was only half a billion. What a let-down.
:-P
June 20, 2008 9:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad TPM staff finally mentioned the two muslim women's story.
(repost)
I think there aren't many TPM posts about this ugly situation precisely because no one can really defend the humiliation and prejudice delivered to these two women by Obama's campaign unless TPM readers are willing to be dragged through the dregs of politics. It's a taint and unpleasant. It is not however the xenophobic and deluded islamofascism-fear-mongering served by some hateful bumpkins on the Right.
I had hoped that Obama would talk to these women personally and he didn't disappoint.
June 20, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I sure hope so! This kind of post is what I was hoping to find when I first joined TPM. Such a great idea! Please keep 'em coming!
June 20, 2008 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Kudos on the Morning Roundup feature.
June 20, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
I sent too quickly. Kudos on the Morning Roundup feature. This would be a good thing to do on the weekends as well.
June 20, 2008 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Bush, like most Florida politicians from both parties, long opposed oil drilling off the state’s tourism-friendly coastlines. But...he rose to the defense of McCain...and Crist, who in turn backed off his previous opposition to the proposal (and took some grief as a result)."
I wonder how Jebbie is supporting himself these days? Maybe someone should see if the BigOil or some other Bu$hco privateers are paying his bills.
June 20, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
A half a billion sounds like a lot, and is by historical standards. On the other hand, a few days' Iraq expenditures seems like a small price to pay to decide whether we might not want to change course a tad. Why not a billion?
June 20, 2008 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, do it again!
June 20, 2008 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is there a downside to rejecting public financing? I'm not seeing it. What is the rationale behind public financing of campaigns?
June 20, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
To remove the special interests/lobbyists from financing campaigns and then looking for payback later.
Obama's grass roots fundraising is the exception not the norm.
June 20, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
got email from Obama claiming they were outraised by McCain and portraying themselves as underdogs. Is that true?
June 20, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes but not like that...
The RNC is far and away out raising the DNC right now and McCain has shown no interest in dealing with repub 527's so that's where they're coming from.
June 20, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think this $500M talk is only going to rally the GOP and give McCain and the Republicans a talking point of Obama buying the election. He should really put a cap on the amount of money he'll take in/spend.
I think he'll have a helluva hard time with campaign finance reform considering he would have benefited from the broken system.
June 20, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Baron Hill numbers are Exhibit A why Obama's making a play for Indiana.
June 20, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
DairyStateMom says it best on the faux outrage over Obama's decision to decline public financing:
June 20, 2008 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
So happy the Roundups are back.
June 20, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink