John Nichols: OBAMA WINS THE SPENDING RACE IN A LANDSLIDE.

[laststeamtrain]

OBAMA WINS THE SPENDING RACE IN A LANDSLIDE...
John Nichols

<snip>

But even with the boost from his union supporters, the Edwards campaign's television presence will be far less than half that of Obama's and only about half that of Clinton's.

None of this will add up to anything more than an excuse if Edwards gets whipped in Iowa. The unfortunate reality of contemporary politics is that few concessions are made by the broadcast and print punditocracy to the reality that free-spending contenders can and do buy victories in an era of weak campaign finance laws, big donors and media-defined campaigns.

Indeed, candidates who get outraised and outspent are frequently dismissed as less viable because aren't winning the "money primary."

However, if the populist campaign that Edwards has run finishes ahead of the more cautious campaigns of Obama or Clinton in Iowa, it will be a genuine -- and all too rare -- triumph of message over money.

<more>

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=264629

[BeyondGeography]

1. Well excuse newbie Barack Obama for spending money

How much has Edwards spent in Iowa over the years?

[SteppingRazor]

4. I don't think the story's really calling out Obama for spending money.

I mean, if you've got it, you'd have to be an idiot not to spend it.

[BeyondGeography]

7. It is a joke to pretend that there's a certain purity to an Edwards win

compared with Obama or Clinton. He has invested years of his life (i.e. more time) and, in the aggregate, just as much money promoting himself in that state as any other candidate. I think Nichols embarrasses himself with this analysis.

[SteppingRazor]

2. It'd be particularly odd if Edwards and Huckabee won...

in which case, both caucus winners would be candidates who were far outspent by their better-financed opponents.

[NashVegas]

3. Can't Wait to See the 4th Quarter Numbers

I don't know about elsewhere, but in my area, Edwards and Obama both were kicking Hillary's fundraising efforts to the curb.

[rodeodance]

5. what a grand message that would be--- triumph of message over money.

However, if the populist campaign that Edwards has run finishes ahead of the more cautious campaigns of Obama or Clinton in Iowa, it will be a genuine -- and all too rare -- triumph of message over money.

[laststeamtrain]

6. Eggs Act Lee!!

:thumbsup:

[Flabbergasted]

8. kick

[hoozyorsugadaddy]

9. something is messed up about this money race

[zulchzulu]

10. John still has a soft spot for Mr. Edwards

I've talked to him many times here in Madison and he's gone from being a big Edwards supporter (as he was in 2004) to thinking Edwards was finished to now thinking that Edwards could pull it off somehow. He's told me that without more money than he has, he's bound to run out of gas before February 5th.

Face it. Edwards doesn't have the support and money to go that far even if he wins in Iowa. Obama has the support financially from an unprecedented amount of many people who donated smaller contributions to his campaign. Obama CAN spend the money he has, and why the hell not? Edwards simply doesn't have the reserves Obama does. Is that Obama's fault?

Um...no.