Obama’s Fundraising Pace Won’t Be “Letting Up Anytime Soon”

OBAMA HAS MADE MARCH A MONTH OF FUNDRAISING MADNESS

“President Barack Obama Has Been Fundraising At A Harried Pace This Year, And He Is Not Letting Up Any Time Soon.” (Donovan Slack, “Obama To Fundraise This Month In Houston, Chicago, Georgia, Vermont, And Maine,” Politico, 3/2/12)

This Month, Obama Has Already Taken His Fundraising Tour To Houston, Chicago And Georgia. “In the next month, he is scheduled to hit campaign events in Houston, Chicago, Georgia, Vermont and Maine, according to a schedule obtained by POLITICO. Obama also has events in DC, beginning Tuesday at an upscale hotel, where he will attend a reception targeting South Asian constituents. Another, at a different hotel two weeks later, is organized by Futuro Fund, a Latino political organization.” (Donovan Slack, “Obama To Fundraise This Month In Houston, Chicago, Georgia, Vermont, And Maine,” Politico, 3/2/12)

• Tonight, Obama Will Raise Campaign Cash In Maine And Vermont. “Obama also has raised millions this month at more traditional fundraisers in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and Washington. He has another slew of events scheduled this Friday in Maine and Vermont.”(Donovan Slack, “Obama Camp Ups Solicitations For Cash,” Politico, 3/26/12)

Obama Has Attended 43 Fundraisers This Year, 109 Since Filing For Reelection. “It’s the 43rd fundraiser Pres. Obama has done this year, the 109th since filing for re-election. Has raised $300-million since then.” (CBS’s Mark Knoller, Twitter Feed, 3/19/12)

• NOTE: Over The Course Of Bush’s Entire Reelection Campaign, He Attended A Total Of 97 Fundraisers, 57 Of Which Were For His Reelection Campaign. “According to CBS White House Correspondent Mark Knoller, the unofficial keeper of White House statistics, Bush at this point of his reelection campaign had attended 49 fundraisers. And over Bush’s whole reelection campaign, from May 2003-November 2004, he attended a total of 97 fundraisers, of which 57 were for his Bush-Cheney reelection campaign and the rest for the Republican National Committee.” (Paul Bedard, “Obama’s Numbers: Vacations 16, Golf 90, Fundraisers 100,”Washington Examiner, 3/1/12)

OBAMA IS FOCUSING ON RAISING CAMPAIGN CASH FROM MAJOR DONORS

Obama Is “Relying More On Big Donors Than In 2008.” “Barack Obama is spending heavily to bring in money and relying more on big donors than he did in 2008, but his fundraising pace has slipped from his first presidential campaign, reports filed with the Federal Election Commission Tuesday show.” (Kenneth P. Vogel, “Obama Fundraising Slips From 2008,” Politico, 3/20/12)

• Obama Is “Redoubling His Efforts To Extract Bigger Contributions” From Donors. “Whatever the reason, Obama appears to be redoubling his efforts to extract bigger contributions from his support base.” (T.W. Farnam, “Obama’s High-Dollar Donations Lagging,” The Washington Post, 3/18/12)

Obama’s “Haste To Raise Campaign Funds Risks Blurring The Message Of A President Who Champions The Middle Class.” “Eight months before the presidential election, the haste to raise campaign funds risks blurring the message of a president who champions the middle class against Republican opponents, particularly multimillionaire Mitt Romney.” (Tangi Quemener, “Obama Juggles Needs For Campaign Money, Mass Appeal,” AFP. 2/26/12)

AND OBAMA IS SPENDING BIG TO BRING IN CASH

Obama Has Been “Burning Through Money At A Furious Pace.” “At the same time, the Obama campaign has been burning through money at a furious pace. In January, for example, the Obama campaign spent $17.7 million while raising only $11.9 million.” (T.W. Farnam, “Obama’s High-Dollar Donations Lagging,” The Washington Post, 3/18/12)

“The Numbers Also Suggest Signs Of Stress.” (Jack Gillum And Steve Peoples, “Obama Outspends Republican Campaigns By Millions,” The Associated Press, 3/29/12)

• Since January, Obama’s Team Has Spent More Than $7 Million On Postage, Printing, And Telemarketing, Often Used To Contact Low-Dollar Donors. “Obama’s team has spent more than $7 million since January on fundraising-related expenses like postage, printing and telemarketing, in some cases to contact the same kind of low-dollar donors who supported Obama four years ago.” (Jack Gillum And Steve Peoples, “Obama Outspends Republican Campaigns By Millions,” The Associated Press, 3/29/12)

“The Campaign Also Spent Millions More On Expenses Like Online Advertising And Consulting, Which In Some Cases Can Be Tied To Fundraising.” (Jack Gillum And Steve Peoples, “Obama Outspends Republican Campaigns By Millions,” The Associated Press, 3/29/12)

• Obama’s  Campaign Is On Pace To Spend $35 Million On Online Advertising By November. “Obama for America spent the same amount of money on web ads last month – around $3 million – a possible sign of a monthly spending trend. If the campaign continues spending around $3 million on digital advertising monthly going forward, it would be on pace to spend $35 million by November.” (Kate Kaye, “Obama Camp On Pace to Spend $35 Million on Web Ads,” Clickz, 3/27/12)

• And $35 Million Could Be A “Conservative Estimate” As The Campaign Will Likely Increase Its Ad Spending During The General Election. “That $35 million could be a conservative estimate considering OFA is likely to boost its ad spending overall during the general election. Obama campaign insiders say OFA spent around $20 million on online ads in 2008, higher than ClickZ’s $16 million tally.” (Kate Kaye, “Obama Camp On Pace to Spend $35 Million on Web Ads,” Clickz, 3/27/12)
• Since Filing For Reelection, Obama’s Campaign Has Spent $11 Million On Online Advertising.  “As the GOP presidential contenders slog their way through a prolonged primary season, President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign continues to spend big on digital ads. Obama for America spent an additional $3 million on digital ads, including text messages, in February. Since the launch of the 2012 campaign about a year ago, Obama’s team has spent more than $11 million on web ads, according to ClickZ Politics analysis of Federal Election Commission filings.” (Kate Kaye, “Obama Camp On Pace to Spend $35 Million on Web Ads,” Clickz, 3/27/12)

“With Offices In Nearly Every State, The Campaign Also Faces Rising Overhead.” (Jack Gillum And Steve Peoples, “Obama Outspends Republican Campaigns By Millions,” The Associated Press, 3/29/12)

• This Year, Obama’s Team Has Spent About $1.1 Million On Computer Equipment, $435,000 On Rent And Utilities, $305,000 On Telephones And $19,000 On Office Supplies. “Through the first two months of the year, Obama spent approximately $1.1 million on computer equipment, $435,000 in rent and utilities, $305,000 on telephones, and $19,000 on office supplies, federal filings show.” (Jack Gillum And Steve Peoples, “Obama Outspends Republican Campaigns By Millions,” The Associated Press, 3/29/12) 

And February Was No Exception

 The Obama Campaign And The Obama Victory Fund Alone Spent $6.1 Million – “More Than A Third Of Their Total Spending” – On Fundraising In February. “The Obama-linked committees spent heavily on fundraising in February, with the Obama campaign and the Obama Victory Fund alone spending $6.1 million – more than a third of their total spending.” (Kenneth P. Vogel, “Obama Fundraising Slips From 2008,” Politico, 3/20/12)

• $2.9 Million In Postage And Printing Costs Typically Related To Direct Mail, As Well As $440,000 On Telemarketing And $774,000 On Obama Merchandise. “That includes efforts to generate enthusiasm among the small donors who powered Obama’s 2008 campaign. The reports show about $2.9 million in postage and printing costs typically related to direct mail, as well as $440,000 on telemarketing and $774,000 on Obama-branded merchandise. That wound up in the campaign’s online store and as rewards for small and medium-sized donations, like a public radio pledge drive.” (Kenneth P. Vogel, “Obama Fundraising Slips From 2008,”Politico, 3/20/12)

The Obama Campaign Spent More Than $750,000 On Campaign Merchandise In February. “Overall, the Obama campaign, through their joint DNC account, has spent more than $750,000 on campaign merchandise in February — one way of keeping low dollar supporters engaged with the campaign and driving up overall contribution numbers.” (Byron Tau, “Obama’s $10,000 Nail Polish Buy,” Politico, 3/20/12)

• Including $10,000 On Nail Polish Designed By Richard Blanch Of Le Métier De Beauté To Sell To Supporters For $40 Dollars Per Set.  “The Obama campaign’s latest  report for one of its joint DNC accounts shows that Chicago spent about $10,000 in February alone on nail polish designed by Richard Blanch Of Le Métier De Beauté. The campaign is, in turn, selling the nail polish in a three bottle set along with a collectable bag to supporters for $40 dollars.” (Byron Tau, “Obama’s $10,000 Nail Polish Buy,” Politico, 3/20/12)

Obama Upped The Ante Of His Big Donor Push

In February, Obama Spent More Than It Did Targeting Big Donors Than It Did In 2008, With The Obama Victory Fund Alone Spending $855,000 On Catering And Facility Rental.  “And the Obama network is also more explicitly targeting big donors than it did in 2008, with the Obama Victory Fund in particular spending $855,000 on catering and facility rental primarily for high-dollar fundraising events.” (Kenneth P. Vogel, “Obama Fundraising Slips From 2008,” Politico, 3/20/12)

• The Obama Campaign Spent $95,000 At Daniel, The Upper East Side Restaurant Owned By Obama Backer Daniel Boulud. “It spent $95,000 alone at Daniel, the Upper East Side restaurant of celebrated chef Daniel Boulud, an avowed Obama backer who has hosted other fundraisers president, and scored an invite to join Michelle Obama at a White House event promoting local and seasonal produce.” (Kenneth P. Vogel, “Obama Fundraising Slips From 2008,” Politico, 3/20/12)