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Kerry Lags Behind Bush in Fund Raising - LIBERAL media puts out call where to give
St. Petersburg Times ^
| March 4, 2004
| DAVID ESPO
Posted on 03/04/2004 1:26:37 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. John Kerry is a whopping $100 million behind President Bush in ready cash as he embarks on the next phase of his White House campaign, and dependent on outside groups he can't legally control to help close the gap.
At the same time, Kerry's aides say he brought in a record $1.2 million over the Internet in less than 24 hours after locking up the Democratic presidential nomination with a near-sweep of the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses.
They cite that as evidence the Massachusetts senator can raise additional millions quickly and compete financially with Bush through this summer's political conventions. Federal spending restrictions take effect for the general election campaign in the fall.
Kerry himself sounded like a man scrapping for every last dollar on Wednesday.
"George Bush has about $200 million and he's going to start advertising tomorrow," he told an audience in Orlando, Fla. "We need to be able to answer him," he added, appealing for donations of "$10, $20, $50, $100." Federal law allows donors to contribute up to $2,000 to an individual candidate.
In its most recent public report, the Kerry campaign said it had $2.1 million cash on hand as of Feb. 1, with debts of $7.2 million. Since then, while fund raising has improved, Kerry has had to fight his way through more than two dozen primary and caucus states, running costly television advertising in several of them.
Bush's campaign committee reported cash on hand of $104 million as of Feb. 1, with no debt. The president continues to raise money, scheduling three fund-raisers in a little more than 24 hours in California on Wednesday.
Stephanie Cutter, a spokeswoman for Kerry, said the campaign has an aggressive fund-raising program, and the senator said several of his former rivals "have offered to be helpful." Additionally, the Democratic National Committee is ready to step in.
But Kerry's own fund-raising efforts will take time to bear fruit, and the party is limited in what it can spend.
As Bush was poised to unleash the opening $10 million salvo of his ad campaign Thursday, outside groups eager to help Kerry were stepping in, to protests from Republicans.
These groups, MoveOn.org Voter Fund and the Media Fund, have risen to prominence since enactment of a new law meant to rein in the influence of big money in campaigns - legislation that Kerry and other Democrats supported and many Republicans opposed.
While they may raise money in donations of unlimited size from individuals, they are barred from coordinating their activities with campaigns. Nor may they air commercials that explicitly urge a vote for or against individual candidates.
The MoveOn.org Voter Fund has announced plans to air commercials shadowing the Bush campaign ads, but at lower levels.
"We're worried about being swamped with ads after Super Tuesday so we're going to do our best," said Wes Boyd, the group's founder.
That prompted a sharp attack by Ed Gillespie, chairman of the Republican Party.
"Who does Mr. Boyd mean exactly by we?" he asked. "Coordinating ad strategy with a presidential campaign ... is a defiant, knowing and willful violation of the law."
Boyd did not return a call for comment.
Cutter said the Kerry campaign is "not coordinating and we're not counting on them" for assistance.
The Media Fund, financed in part by billionaire George Soros, is expected to begin airing commercials in the next several days.
"The object is to give Democrats cover during a Republican advertising onslaught and to make sure that the national political environment stays favorable for Democrats everywhere," said Jim Jordan, who was Kerry's campaign manager until a staff shake-up last fall, and now is a spokesman for the Media Fund.
For his part, in addition to renewing fund-raising appeals to his own donors, Kerry hopes to gain access to lists of donors who contributed to his rivals.
Rep. Dick Gephardt has agreed, and Gen. Wesley Clark has offered assurances of assistance too, according to one campaign official. Sen. John Edwards, who drew heavy financial backing from fellow trial lawyers, has pledged "to do everything in my power" to help make Kerry the president.
Kerry and his former Democratic rivals are expected to appear at a party fund-raiser scheduled for March 25.
In addition, the Democratic National Committee is permitted to spend $16.25 million in coordination with the Kerry campaign.
"I'm here, we're armed, we're ready for battle," Democratic chairman Terence McAuliffe said in a recent interview.
At the same time, the more of the DNC money Kerry uses now, the less will be available after the convention, when Bush's re-election committee is expected to use the $16.25 million available from the Republican National Committee.
Kerry's challenge is compounded by the calendar, since the Democrats hold their convention in late July, five weeks before the GOP does.
The two candidates are limited to spending $74.4 million apiece after receiving their party's nominations, meaning that Kerry must make his money last longer than Bush does.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Purchase this AP story for Reprint
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; campaign; fundraising; jfk2004; kerrycampaigncoffer; kerrycampaignkoffer; mediabias; mediashillforkerry; moveon; moveonorg; politics; themediafund; w2004
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
I have a feeling the Dems are going to bankrupt themselves trying to get this colossal loser into the White House. I am one of the ones that thinks they don't have a chance in hell. I think this is wonderful.
Qwinn
2
posted on
03/04/2004 1:31:42 AM PST
by
Qwinn
To: Cincinatus' Wife
The money usually backs a winner. The DNC is hurting also --- according to Carl Cameron, the DNC has a whole $15 Million on hand.
3
posted on
03/04/2004 1:33:57 AM PST
by
onyx
(Kerry' s a Veteran, but so were Lee Harvey Oswald, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Timothy McVeigh)
To: Qwinn
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry, snaps off one last salute for police officers who guarded his motorcade as he heads to his campaign plane to leave Orlando, Florida, March 3, 2004. Kerry campaigned in Florida on the heels of his wins on Super Tuesday. REUTERS/Jim Bourg US ELECTION
To: onyx
How long can Terry McAuliffe last?
To: All
Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe talks to CBS moderator Bob Schieffer, (not visible) before the start of his interview on CBS's 'Face the Nation' in Washington Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004. McAuliffe said 'It's very unfortunate that Ralph (Nader) decided to run. ' (AP Photo/CBS, Karin Cooper)
To: Cincinatus' Wife
Why would a US Senator SALUTE a police officer?? I thought it was a military thing.
7
posted on
03/04/2004 1:48:58 AM PST
by
GeronL
(http://www.ArmorforCongress.com......................Send a Freeper to Congress!)
To: GeronL
He's practicing.
To: Cincinatus' Wife
See, articles like this are just cover for the fact that Kerry's advisers are telling him to do everything he can to disappear. Kerry's best chance is for Kerry to remain as much an "unnamed" candidate as possible. "Unnamed" Democrat vs. Bush does better than any actual real Democrat, and that includes Kerry.
He wants to win on a "Anybody but Bush" ticket, and the best way for him to do that is to crawl in a hole and cover himself up. I actually strongly suspect we'll see very little of Kerry himself in the next few months, what we will see is the attack dogs like MoveOn come out in force to slander and demonize W.
Qwinn
9
posted on
03/04/2004 1:53:32 AM PST
by
Qwinn
To: Qwinn
Kerry Lags Behind Bush in Fund Raising
Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, FL - 10 minutes ago
Kerry Lags Behind Bush in Fund Raising
Orlando Sentinel (subscription), FL - 10 minutes ago
Kerry Lags Behind Bush in Fund Raising
Los Angeles Times (subscription), CA - 20 minutes ago
Kerry Lags Behind Bush in Fund Raising
Newsday, NY - 22 minutes ago
Kerry Lags Behind Bush in Fund Raising
Hampton Roads Daily Press, VA - 23 minutes ago
Kerry Lags Behind Bush in Fund Raising
Chicago Tribune (subscription), IL - 24 minutes ago
Kerry lags behind Bush in fund raising
Penn Live, PA - 25 minutes ago
Kerry lags behind Bush in fund raising
MLive.com, MI - 28 minutes ago
Kerry Lags Behind Bush in Fund Raising
San Jose Mercury News, CA - 51 minutes ago
Kerry Lags Behind Bush in Fund Raising
Bastrop Daily Enterprise, LA - 1 hour ago
Kerry lags behind Bush in fund raising
Boston.com, MA - 1 hour ago
Kerry Lags Behind Bush in Fund Raising
Hartford Courant (subscription), CT - 1 hour ago
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In-Forum (subscription), ND - 2 hours ago
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Helena Independent Record, MT - 2 hours ago
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Dunn County News, WI - 2 hours ago
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Leavenworth Times, KS - 2 hours ago
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Elko Daily Free Press, NV - 2 hours ago
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Albany Democrat Herald, OR - 2 hours ago
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Wyoming News, WY - 2 hours ago
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The Missoulian, MT - 2 hours ago
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Idaho State Journal, ID - 2 hours ago
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Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA - 2 hours ago
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Santa Maria Times, CA - 2 hours ago
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Orangeburg Times Democrat, SC - 2 hours ago
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Lodi News-Sentinel, CA - 2 hours ago
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Montgomery County Record, PA - 2 hours ago
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Munster Times, IN - 2 hours ago
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Fredericksburg.com, VA - 2 hours ago
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North County Times, CA - 2 hours ago
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Daily American Online (subscription), PA - 2 hours ago
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Corvallis Gazette Times, OR - 2 hours ago
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Albany Times Union, NY - 3 hours ago
Kerry Lags Behind Bush in Fund Raising
Guardian, UK - 3 hours ago
Kerry lags far behind Bush in fund raising, will need outside ...
San Francisco Chronicle, CA - 3 hours ago
To: All
LA Times THE RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Kerry's Focus Is Fundraising***People familiar with the Kerry fundraising strategy said Wednesday that the campaign was actively reaching out to Democratic contributors who had supported other candidates. They're planning a 50-city fundraising blitz to take place over six or eight weeks. They're adding regional finance chairs to an expanding finance team.
And they're setting up a joint account with the Democratic National Committee, so that a donor could write one check for $27,000 - a $2,000 donation for Kerry and $25,000 to the DNC, the maximums now allowed by law.
DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe sent an e-mail to 2 million people on a Democratic list seeking contributions for Kerry late Wednesday afternoon, after North Carolina Sen. John Edwards officially dropped out of the race.
McAuliffe said the DNC plans to raise at least $100 million, which it will spend on behalf of Kerry, during the general election.***
To: Cincinatus' Wife
LOL! It kind of begs the question of whether they coordinate with MoveOn.org, when they are so obviously coordinated with every major print outlet, eh?
12
posted on
03/04/2004 2:05:35 AM PST
by
metesky
("Brethren, leave us go amongst them." Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton - Ward Bond- The Searchers)
To: Cincinatus' Wife
"The object is to give Democrats cover during a Republican advertising onslaught and to make sure that the national political environment stays favorable for Democrats everywhere," said Jim Jordan, who was Kerry's campaign manager until a staff shake-up last fall, and now is a spokesman for the Media Fund. No coordination, nope, none. Honest.
13
posted on
03/04/2004 2:08:36 AM PST
by
metesky
("Brethren, leave us go amongst them." Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton - Ward Bond- The Searchers)
To: Qwinn
I have a feeling the Dems are going to bankrupt themselves trying to get this colossal loser into the White House.
We can always hope.
The following post showed up on my own small forum (not exactly a conservative membership) last night:
I was just thinking that Kerry is like the roll with a hamburger, he covers both sides of the meat. Now we are beginning to find out that the roll is what hurts our health. Is that a coincidence or what?
14
posted on
03/04/2004 2:18:44 AM PST
by
R. Scott
(My cynicism rises with the proximity of the elections.)
To: Cincinatus' Wife
Nice catch on all the outlets of the DNC message. By the way, have you seen the movie yet?
15
posted on
03/04/2004 2:19:50 AM PST
by
patj
To: Cincinatus' Wife
I'm glad to see so much independent coverage. Ah, journalism, that noblest of professions :rolls eyes:
Qwinn
16
posted on
03/04/2004 2:23:48 AM PST
by
Qwinn
To: Cincinatus' Wife
If you had to vote today, who would you vote for?
George Bush
John Kerry
Dennis Kucinich
Al Sharpton
Thank you for voting.
If you had to vote today, who would you vote for?
George Bush 2726 (52.71%)
John Kerry 1011 (19.55%)
Dennis Kucinich 326 (6.30%)
Al Sharpton 104 (2.01%)
http://www.cincinnati.com/election2004/
17
posted on
03/04/2004 2:29:23 AM PST
by
ATOMIC_PUNK
(And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood)
To: metesky
....when they are so obviously coordinated with every major print outlet, eh?I don't think I've ever seen a headline so religiously kept to the word.
To: metesky
...Kerry's campaign manager until a staff shake-up last fall, and now is a spokesman for the Media Fund. Bump!
To: patj
No not yet. It isn't possible during the week. Cincinatus and I hope to get in to see it this weekend.
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