Obama To Host DNC Fundraiser Tomorrow Night
A source forwards me the invite for a fundraiser that Barack Obama is hosting tomorrow night for the Democratic National Committee's White House Victory Fund.
It's Obama's first fundraiser for the fund, and the event is being seen as a clear sign that the Democratic donor establishment is coalescing behind Obama as the all-but-certain nominee.
Click on the image to enlarge...
Word of the event -- which is taking place in New York, at the Park Avenue home of top Dem fundraisers Jane Hartley and her husband, Ralph Schlosstein -- stirred some speculation in Democratic circles yesterday that Hillary and Obama would be hosting it together as a kind of unity gesture, an effort to unite the donor establishment behind Obama.
But Hillary doesn't appear to be involved in this event. Some folks still think it's possible that Hillary and Obama will do some kind of joint appearance tomorrow, but this fundraiser isn't it -- for now, anyway.
I don't think she'll be appearing with Obama anytime tomorrow. Word is that she'll be staying in the race until the state party conventions are over.
From the Austin-American Statesman newspaper:
This is what you'll really see in the 'valedictory' speech. Talk about moving onto the next phase of the campaign, which will be the state party conventions in the hopes of switching Barack Obama's delegates towards her. We may see challenges by the Clinton campaign at each one of the state party conventions concluding throughout the rest of the month until the 21st.
June 3, 2008 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Fluffer- I see what you're saying. But I have a feeling this is over. I don't see her fighting to shift delegates it this point.
The last 24 hours resembles NC/IN night. The supers are going to fall on her like a ton of bricks. It's over, I now think for the first time.
June 3, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gary Mauro - there's a name that I haven't seen in awhile.
She really relies on the old establishment.
June 3, 2008 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gary Mauro, the Democrat so inept that he made Bush look competent in comparison in 1998. I was so disgusted by him I abstained from voting in the governor's race.
June 3, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
There has been exactly one good governor of Texas in my life - Ann Richards.
We've had a series of the biggest numbskulls in either party as governor.
Why the rest of the country would vote to make a Texas governor president is beyond me.
I know why Texans do it - vanity. It's the rest of the country I don't get.
June 3, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
$28,500? That's one big ticket event. But the DNC is down $40 million to the RNC, so they need it ASAP.
June 3, 2008 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Then she should get nothing, absolutely nothing, from Obama. No Secretary of HHS. No role at all in the Senate on Obama's health care legislation. No help retiring her debt. She needs to beome a non-person.
June 3, 2008 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not helpful, Steve. Let's get over our dislike of Hillary ASAP and pull in the same direction. That's what Obama will do.
June 3, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
hill has to stay in until she pays back the campaign debt.
but the race is over tomorow.
just like how Paul is still in the race even though we know McCain has it clinched.
June 3, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the media is finally getting tired of this story and I don't think they can do much more with it - it's moving off the front page into the inside and they are starting to call it "exhausting" and "endless" and other less than enthusiastic terms.
So she can challenge all she wants, I don't think she's going to get much out of it. I think everyone - including the media - is ready for a nominee and a general election campaign.
June 3, 2008 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Five superdelegates to immediately declare tonight for "the winner" of Montana:
That's 5 for Obama.
June 3, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's about damn time this contest was put to rest and general election contest joined. Let's just hope that the Democrats haven't already blown their golden opportunity to whip McSame, as Bob Herbert suggests in today's NYT.
June 3, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Anybody else notice that obama's poll numbers over the last week or so have been increasing pretty much across the board and mcbush's have been going down? I am guessing that when it's finally over obama goes up by between 5 and 10 points in national polls and statewide polls against mcbush. Go obama.
June 3, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I thought that McLame had been polling better against Obama lately. Maybe I"m reading the wrong polls . . .
June 3, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Polls are just polls.
They are pretty meaningless. Didn't '04 demonstrate that pretty well?
I'm not too concerned about polls right now.
June 3, 2008 10:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed, its just fun to mess with them However, an important point with polls is trends, not actual numbers and the trend right now is in the right direction.
June 3, 2008 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah on trends and that's what I said before we had this exchange even.
I agree - it's all we've got but I got so burned in '04 believing the polls that I'm twice shy about them now.
June 3, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's true. I guess that at this stage, their just grist for obsessive political junkies (and I mean that in a good way :0 ).
June 3, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
"their" = "they're" (speaking of obsessive . . .)
June 3, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Look at the gallup poll on the side. Obama was trailing mcbush by about 2 points a week ago and now he is ahead of mcbush by 3. I concede a couple of months ago he was ahead by more prior to the wright nonsense. After that he went down.
Same thing with some statewide polls, but I have been noticing in the last week or so that he has been creaping up.
June 3, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
the trend has been steady ever since Obama pulled ahead. He experienced a slight downturn once Clinton started attacking, then he went back up and steadily, no matter who is polling, he's not dropped back except temporarily.
It's been a steady progression. The more people hear him and about him the better he does.
That's what I take from the gazilion polls out there.
June 3, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
This just in: 10:30 am presser with senators on capital hill. Boxer, one of my favs, shumer, not so much, and others. Maybe its an announcement of some supers, but the fact that shumer's involved makes it unlikely I would think.
June 3, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Funny how we all seem to agree - Boxer is far and away one of my faves too and I would have walked over hot coals to see her elected if she was the first woman running.
I wish she'd get the VP nod, but that's not happening.
June 3, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, I agree on boxer. Add glass and nails as well for me. Boxer is an awesome senator. Unfortunately, arnie is talking about running against her for her seat. That will be a fight, but I bet she still wins.
June 3, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I'd very extremely surprised if Schumer swapped.
June 3, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
jladd: you're wrong. What's not helpful is allowing a losing candidate to hold the party hostage. I'm fine with giving her a consolation prize IF and only if she cuts the crap, NOW. Politics ain't beanbag.
June 3, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
At this point, f*ck the consolation prize. She deserves nothing and she will never cut the crap obviously. She probably should have gotten a consolation prize 3 months ago, not now.
June 3, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did they send tickets to Hill and Bill?
June 3, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Never a chance of this being a "unity" event. Both of the co-hosts are primary-maxed to Obama for $2,300 and have given not a penny to Clinton.
The other name on the invite has been one of Obama's top New York fund-raising consultants for the entire primary season.
June 3, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think that this is for the dnc and the convention. The limits are different for the parties as opposed to individuals, I think the limit is 28,500, which is surprise, surpise the cost to attend the event.
June 3, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink