Bank accounts running low for all Dem hopefuls

[bicentennial_baby]

WASHINGTON - The battle for cash is looming almost as large as the battle for votes as the Democratic presidential campaign becomes a national race.
After contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, all seven candidates vying for the nomination to take on President Bush found bank accounts running low.

With seven states including Arizona voting Tuesday and 10 more before February is over, each campaign needs money for television commercials and flights across the country more than ever before.

From new front-runner John Kerry to last year's record-setting fund-raiser Howard Dean, candidates urged supporters to contribute as much as they could as quickly as possible.

"By close of business today, our campaign must make critical decisions about media buys and get-out-the-vote efforts in the seven states where voters will speak their minds next Tuesday," Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill wrote supporters in an e-mail yesterday. "If at all possible, please rush an immediate donation to our campaign."

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=national&story_id=013104a4_dems_money

[jsw_81]

1. I'm not worried

[maddezmom]

2. Everyone who can should donate to their candidates today!!

:)

[mikehiggins]

3. A couple of thoughts on this article

First, looks like avoiding spending caps wasn't all that smart an idea. Having limits might have served Dean well, and given him another issue to hit Kerry with.

Second, once again Clark is ignored in the article. They mention his $5 million plus in matching funds, but ignore the money the matching funds matched, and the millions more not matched. They talk about how Kerry raised $1.7 million recently, but ignored how Clark raised $2 million over the internet in the same period. They talk about how much money Dean raised over the year, but neglect to mention that in the first quarter of his campaign Clark raised more than anyone but Dean.

Still, I guess Clark shouldn't complain about not being listed in the article since the Clark campaign does not have any money problems at this time. Reportedly it has millions on hand, and little if any campaign debt.

So it goes.

[spooky3]

5. I'm an Edwards supporter but I really admire Clark.

I wish both would get more media attention.

[janx]

9. Mike, I understand your reasoning about the spending caps

matter regarding Dean, but I don't agree.

Dean still has an enormous supporter base sending in regular contributions. When the call comes out to contribute a little more, they do so. If any one of the candidates drops out, Dean stands to get more supporters to add to his core constituency. More money.

If the race starts tightening, Dean only stands to gain. People are generally happy to join us, and when they do, they generally aren't ready to jump ship.

The Dean coffer is like a beehive. If he had elected to go for the caps, that wouldn't be possible.

[kaybea]

4. Donated again this morning to Gen. Clark

so I'm doing my bit for my candidate, even though Feb. is the most expensive month of the year for me:-(

Damn this frigid winter to hell!! <Sorry, off topic>

[newyawker99]

8. Hi kaybea!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[gulliver]

10. Thanks for the reminder. I just donated too. n/t

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Ya know...

I'm startin' to think screw them and the money.

If nobody runs a zillion TV ads, but the local Democratic Party runs a few ads just saying just read about these guys in the papers and go out and vote for somebody to beat Shrub, would that really be so bad?

Yeah, they need money for phone banks, rent, signs, transportation, some paid staff...

TV, though, is a money pit. Who would be helped or hurt if nobody ran commercials?

The real money is needed this Fall to take on the fascist propaganda those other guys have been cooking up while we've been figuring out who to run.

[gristy]

7. Personally, I think they are supposed to be running near empty

What do you want them to do? Build up a war chest and sit on it? Can you imagine the criticism that would generate for everyone but the frontrunner of the week? The idea is to win the nomination. And that means spend money. Yes, wisely, but spend it all, and as fast as it comes in. Only a solid frontrunner can avoid this. But even he risks getting blindsided by someone on the upswing.