RNC Brought In Whopping $66 Million In September
Here's another key piece of info from that McCain campaign conference call earlier this evening: The McCain campaign announced that the RNC took in a whopping $66 million in September.
"The RNC had its best fundraising month last month," said adviser Greg Strimple. "It took in $66 million. That is the best month that they've had since October of 2000. We are very well-funded, and we are looking forward to a very aggressive last 30 days."
We still don't know how Obama and the DNC did, but this does put Obama's decision to forego public financing in perspective. McCain got about $85 million from the government, and on top of that McCain is getting a continued assist from private donations into the RNC's coffers, which can make up in a lot of ways for the constraints that public finance have placed on him.
The Obama campaign's bet was that they could continue to take in enough money to not only make up for the $85 million, but also outdo the GOP. And it's looking less likely that they'll manage to pull off that trick -- so we may end up be where we usually are every presidential election, with the Republicans having the financial advantage.
Eric, I swear, you just ask for it. What difference could this possibly make 4 weeks out? IF they'd done this all along, maybe it would have mattered. But Eric, the campaigns are almost over.
I really wonder sometimes -
October 2, 2008 8:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Doesn't really sound like these folks need to be bailed out, does it?
October 2, 2008 8:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Huh - nice comment.
October 2, 2008 8:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd dearly love to compare the first half of the month's fundraising to the second half....
October 2, 2008 8:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you are forgetting the point. Obama has more leverage with his money, The McCain camp barely has offices in Indiana (M +1) and North Carolina (O +3), and the spent 5 million on perhaps the worst ad ever (bailout). Also, I think money has little to no affect- when Obama was spending millions in florida his numbers did not move ( I am in Fl- I saw his ads every day), but not till the financial meltdown and he came here- did his numbers move. Also, money would have been more important in say august not october when people are kind of certain who they will vote for. Also, anything that says paid by the REPUBLICAN national committee is not something I think people want to hear. The best thing they can do with that money is start building for ROMNEY 12
October 2, 2008 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Plus Obama's campaign spends very carefully. Many full time people are interns. Often they stay with supporters. And local people are bringing meals to them every night.
This is a lean and mean campaign in terms of using funds wisely.
October 2, 2008 8:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess the direction is clear. Each time McCain or the RNC revealed big numbers, Barack's supporters rallied to top them.
No time like the present to get started in earnest to trump that number in a big way.
October 2, 2008 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Come on, $80 million!
October 2, 2008 8:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know it'll happen - when has it not?
October 2, 2008 8:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah Yes, Eric - all that money.
Now look at the composite polls on September 1-14 - and look at them today.
Any other arguments you care to make?
October 2, 2008 8:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
How can we put the decision into perspective when we don't have those numbers? Seriously?
October 2, 2008 8:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
O thank you.
The conclusions drawn on unwarranted assumptions absolutely drive me nuts.
And they are not uncommon around here.
October 2, 2008 8:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Comapring RNC money to Obama doesn't make you look bright at all. But I still can bet you, Obama will surpass $66 Mil.
Imagine how much money Palin-Couric interviews must have brought in?
Also, if he was worried about funds- I don't think Obama would've aired two two-min ads in two weeks.
Not worried.
October 2, 2008 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
The RNC sure are using that money wisely, like that 5mill attacking the bail out that McCain supports.
October 2, 2008 8:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Also, doesn't it sound fishy to disclose the donations as quickly and as they did?
They needed some good news to keep the deck of the ship from falling apart. They're desperate.
October 2, 2008 8:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone else think this strategy is reminiscent of "troop surge"? Play like shit for a few months, have confidence you know will win it, realize it is going down the tubes, dump an insane amount of money in hopes to recoup ground?
Wouldn't it have made sense to dump a small amount in so you wouldn't have to make it up? No one wants to have to comeback...
October 2, 2008 8:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was thinking "surge" this afternoon.
October 2, 2008 8:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do we have any idea how much of the RNC's money is going to McCain and how much is going to congressional races?
October 2, 2008 8:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Between spending on the Republican Congressional and Senate seats that are in trouble plus anti Obama ads for McCain, the question is, is that $66 mill enough money?
October 2, 2008 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
No - this isn't the campaign - it's the RNC and they gots lots of people out there asking them for $$$ for their campaigns, too - like you said.
It's not as if the McLame Camp raised $66.
The only person who does that is Obama.
October 2, 2008 8:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I still would like to know who is paying those extremely expensive lawyers the McLame Camp sent up to Alaska to obstruct justice.
That's some very big bucks.
October 2, 2008 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cindy..... she's buying the White House!
October 2, 2008 8:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
After what the Congressional Republicans did to them on Monday, you can expect the Chambers of Commmerce, and most of the Big Business Interests to send big chunks of money to the Obama campaign.
They saw that the Republicans were willing to let the economy collapse, just to save their own reelection chances.
Ask yourselves folks: If you were big business, would you not want to turn to Obama now.
October 2, 2008 8:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
To get a better comparison, you need to add both Obama's fundraising amounts with the DNC's.
I'm sure between the two it equals or surpasses the RNC.
October 2, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hello Marcia ;)
October 2, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wonder if Cindy is helping out.... Hum....
October 2, 2008 8:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can I be mean? I've got the TV on the predebate on C-Span with no sound and I'm looking at that stage - I hope Palin is backstage puking her toenails up.
October 2, 2008 8:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
As Hyperrevue and others point out, RNC money isn't just for McCain. As Obama begins to stomp McCain in swing states, many of which have been good red states in the past, a lot of this money is going to be funneled to save House and Senate seats, and won't benefit McCain at all.
October 2, 2008 8:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right - same point here.
It's not McLame - he's never raised that much. The only person who raises that much is Obama.
October 2, 2008 8:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eric,
We have no idea how much money Obama and the DNC have made last month to make any assumption whether the Dems vs the GOP have raised more money this election.
I find it really interesting that the RNC raised $66 million yet McCain is pulling out of Michigan.
October 2, 2008 8:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do we know how much they have on hand? That 66 million is what they raised during the entire month...it doesn't necessarily mean it's all left and is sitting in their bank account, right?
In addition, I wonder what their fundraising has been like since John McCain announced that "The fundamentals of our economy are strong". My guess is, it's been in the toilet.
October 2, 2008 8:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
RNC may have money.
But Tena's got cake:
http://www.sotirov.com/uploaded_images/birthday-cake-773619.jpg
Happy Birthday!
October 2, 2008 8:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Except that wasn't the BET.
They were betting that Obama +DNC > Public Funding + DNC
October 2, 2008 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eric, your grasp of money matters is as good as your grasp of the polls.
Doin' Heckuva job, Eric.
October 3, 2008 12:57 AM | Reply | Permalink