Northern Colorado Gazette

by Peter Grady –

President Obama has apparently been  reduced to begging for funds, marking a sharp contrast to his last election.

In an urgent appeal sent out to supporters Tuesday, Obama said in an e-mail, “I will be outspent.”

He went on to say he was not referring to the so-called Super PACs, but the Romney campaign itself.

“The Romney campaign raises more than we do, and the math isn’t hard to understand: Through the primaries, we raised almost three-quarters of our money from donors giving less than $1,000, while Mitt Romney’s campaign raised more than three-quarters of its money from individuals giving $1,000 or more,” he said. “We can be outspent and still win — but we can’t be outspent 10 to 1 and still win.”

By contrast, the 2008 campaign shattered fundraising records to where Obama refused federal matching funds, causing him to outspend John McCain who was hampered with the fundraising limits imposed by accepting matching funds.

This time around though, things are vastly different possibly a combination of the Obama economy and a lack of enthusiasm over his policies.

In order to raise badly needed cash the campaign has resorted to a number of unprecedented measures. Obama has been raffling off dinners with him and Michelle for those who give $3 or more. This is the first time in history that a sitting president has done so.

Recently the campaign has even begun soliciting wedding, birthday and anniversary gifts.

The campaign started an “Obama event registry” asking people to forgo birthday, wedding and anniversary gifts and instead ask family and friends to give the money spent on presents to him instead.

“Got a birthday, anniversary, or wedding coming up?” the site asks. “Let your friends know how important this election is to you — register with Obama 2012, and ask for a donation in lieu of a gift.

“It’s a great way to support the President on your big day,” it continues. “Plus, it’s a gift that we can all appreciate — and goes a lot further than a gravy bowl.”
The Democratic National Committee also appears to be having fundraising woes of its own. In May, the DNC raised $60 million compared to $76.8 million by the RNC.

The AP reported that several Democratic strategists have expressed alarm over the lack of fundraising by the campaign and party.

Debbie Dingell, a DNC committee member and wife of Michigan Congressman John Dingell said, “We’ve all got to get in the same boat and start paddling in the same direction, or we’re going to have some problems.”

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