Obama Courting Clinton Donors

MOMocrat Donna questions whether Barack Obama's attempt to woo Hillary Clinton's largest contributors is necessarily a good thing.

NPR reported on June 26 that after their joint "unity" campaign stop today, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton planned to hold a private meeting with Clinton's top fundraisers for a twofold purpose: (1) to help HRC settle her $10 million campaign debt to vendors and (2) to see what they can do to help the Obama campaign.

This comes just one week after announcing that "the public financing of Presidential elections as it exits today is broken," and urging his supporters to "declare our independence from a broken system, and run the type of campaign that reflects the grassroots values that have already changed our politics and brought us this far."

So why is he now courting Clinton's big money donors?

NPR points out:

Obama's monthly fundraising totals peaked in February. They've been steadily falling since then, as the campaign relies more on small online contributions. May was his weakest month of 2008.

and, more ominously:

John McCain has been raising money almost nonstop. On May 31, he was just $11.5 million behind Obama. It's the closest gap they've had so far.

These are disturbing developments to those of us who rejoiced in the fact that Barack Obama was running a campaign that was immune to the influence of big money donors, and you can be sure that the GOP will exploit this to the fullest extent.

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Comments

[GromytTheDog]

I'm concerned that Obama not peak too early with fundraising. Then again, maybe the single/small donors will be motivated to donate when the GE starts up in earnest against McCain. I tend to think his backers really wanted him to win out over Clinton in the primary, so the drama and urgency of that period compelled them to give.

Right now is sort of a lull, as JPippert noted above.

[Sarah Granger - Huffpost Blogger]

I agree with the point about donors pausing. I think it's also a summer thing as well as an end-of-primary thing. Lots of people are traveling now. July may be slow, but August will heat up with the convention for smaller donors. Big donors can provide funds any time and since this is a slower point in the race pre-VP announcements, this is a good time to get debts tied up... and if Clinton is even a remote chance of a VP choice, it helps them figure out which of the big dollar supporters will come along.

I'm not sure it's such a big deal in terms of financing though - the big money to stay away from is typically from corporations and PACs, not necessarily individuals. Clinton has a hand full of major donors who plan all of her fundraising events in each major city, so it makes sense to build relationships with those people so they will continue to hold events for Obama.

[lildb]

excellent points, Donna. I'm similarly concerned; however, I also happen to be convinced that EVERYONE is sick to death of Republicans and their trashing of everything good about our nation, and that's gonna count for a lot.

either way, important issue you've referenced. thank you.

[jpippert]

I think it's a transition point. Donations are unbelievable this year. I know a lot is flowing to local candidates.

I have two opinions:

1. Big dollar donors in states off the list may shut down the ATM machine and focus locally if they feel too cut off from the national candidates.

2. People are pausing between the primary and launch of national campaign. I'd rather a breather now than at the end, personally.