Democrats launch bid to close $173m funds gap (biggest financial disadvantage in history)

Reuters ^ | 3-5-04

[Indy Pendance]

WASHINGTON - Democrat John Kerry opens the US presidential election campaign with the biggest financial disadvantage in history - a US$100-million (S$173-million) gap between him and President George W. Bush that he is now trying to close.

The newly minted nominee for the Democratic Party is launching a drive for cash, reaching out to the financial supporters of his former rivals and embarking at the end of the month on a 20-city fund-raising tour of hot spots such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta and Chicago. Advertisement

He will be aided by the Democratic National Committee, which has US$17 million to spend for him and a variety of independent groups dedicated to airing advertisements through the summer to help him counter an expected advertising onslaught from Mr Bush.

The Massachusetts senator needs all the help he can get.

At the end of January, his campaign had US$2.1 million in the bank with debts of US$7.2 million.

Mr Bush's campaign has US$104 million in the bank with negligible debt and the likelihood of millions more rolling in by August.

Democratic strategists predict that Mr Kerry can raise at least US$40 million to stay competitive in the four months leading up to the Democratic convention, when federal funds become available and spending limits kick in.

His decision in November to decline public funds in the primaries and the US$45-million spending limit that comes with them will leave him free to raise as much as he can to counter Mr Bush before July.

After the conventions, the playing field will be more level, with both campaigns agreeing to accept US$74 million in public funds.

[goldstategop]

Teresa can't loan him enough cash. He has to raise ALL of it.

[Redcoat LI]

"Democratic strategists predict that Mr Kerry can raise at least US$40 million to stay competitive in the four months leading up to the Democratic convention, when federal funds become available and spending limits kick in."

Didn't he refuse Federal Funds,so there would not be any spending limits?

[TX Bluebonnet]

Hello, China. John Kerry is on Line 1.

[DM1]

The federal limit that he refused was for the primary season only. In the general election they are both capped.

[zarf]

This is nothing. George Soros himself will match it.

They'll match Bush's total in 2 months.

[goldstategop]

Yes, he did. He can raise unlimited amounts of money, just like the President.

[anniegetyourgun]

I really must remember this proclamation. It will be delectable when he falls short.

[Tacis]

Yes, but... With community property, what is my wife's is mine. Terry Kerry's money is Hanoi John's money and he can use any of his own money he wants.

What's that you say? Terry Kerry doesn't trust John-Who- Annuled-His-Marriage-To-His-First-Wife-To-Get-His-Hands-On-All-That-Heinz-Cash to touch her money? Why, then would we trust such a loser-in-his-current-wife's-eyes with our future?

Willie sure won't let him have any of the Saddam oil voucher cash, either! But, if the labor unions pick up their extortion of their members, they can make up a lot of this defecit.

[Redcoat LI]

I thoght so,so is he eligable to recieve any money from the Feds,like the RAT in the article claims,I thought that was the quid-pro-quo of campaign finance?

[Redcoat LI]

She made him sign a pre-nup,they break up,all he gets are those leopard-skin speedos she bought him.

[Contra]

I wonder if she dumps his a** when he loses.

[VRWCTexan]

Every FR member should send J F'n Kerry a check for two cents - clog up his system a bit.

[OldFriend]

The gap that can never ever be bridged no matter how much money Kerry raises, is the gap of honor and integrity between our President and the imposter.

[ancient_geezer]

Be sure to demand a receipt for tax deductibility while your at it LOL.

Lets see 37 cents for postage, nickle for envelope and insert, some flunkie's time to stuff envolope.

Kerry'll be down to bankruptcy in no time ;O)

[quantim]

Kerry in the coming weeks and months will deep-six himself so bad that cash is irrelevant. The goodies are just trickling out.

There is no amount of money than can really make a difference for Kerry.

[Verginius Rufus]

How much is it worth to have all of the media on your side? There are 242 days until the election...having all of the mainstream media except Fox and the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal on their side must be worth at least $500,000 a day to the Democrats. Look at what happened to the ad with the fleeting image of the flag at the WTC and how the media acted as a megaphone for the DNC.

[McGavin999]

Hmmmm, this guy has $2 million in the back and $7 million in debt and he thinks HE can fix our economy!

Go ahead dems, contribute your hard earned money, just be aware that the first $6 million he gets is going to go to pay off his loan on his house.

[CasearianDaoist]

Absolutely! If you count the 527s they are alreagy ahead of Bush now. This is just more "Bush the Fat Cat" agiprop.