|
Obama raised $32 million in January, $55 million in February and $40 million in March. That is a total of $127 million dollars for just 2008. That number, by any standard, is astounding and almost unbelievable. Even more amazing when you realize that the federal funds, if a candidate decides to use public funding, is only $85 million for the whole election!
Hillary did not announce her March donations and she will not until the April 20th filing deadline. No doubt this is due to the numbers for Hillary being low for March. Maybe even below $20 million dollars. Less than half of the amount Obama raised in March. If Hillary had raised large numbers in March her campaign would be telling everyone who would listen to prove she is still a viable candidate. Not announcing them can only mean bad news.
The surprising part of this is that Obama is out campaigning Hillary Clinton. This is amazing because the Clintons should have easily been prepared to destroy Obama in the campaign game. Hillary knew more people in the business. She had more contacts. She and Bill had run national campaigns before. They had plenty of money early and had all of the time in the world to prepare for the Democratic primaries.
But we have all heard the stories how Obama had more offices in most states. How Obama had more staff in the offices. How Obama had more paid staffers. The stories are endless. And a lot of this early planning by Obama’s camp was done when Hillary was raising more money.
How could Hillary Clinton not be as prepared as Obama? How can someone, who says she is ready to lead the country and deal with a war, not be prepared to run her campaign after Super Tuesday? How can someone who says she has 35 years of experience not be ready to alter her campaign to deal with the overwhelming Obama candidacy? Isn’t this election at least an indication of planning and execution ability?
The main reason for her horrible plan might have been that Hillary thought there was really no way she could lose the nomination. Over confidence! Some of her early remarks, like going into “General Election” mode in November gave a big hint that she was sure it would not be a contest. I honestly think that Hillary thought the nomination would be hers after Super Tuesday.
Obama entered the campaign knowing that he was the underdog so he had to be more prepared. He had more offices in most states. He realized that more people already knew Hillary and a lot of people did not know him so he had to have an organized campaign to get the word out about who he was and what he stood for. Obama also had plans and offices in states that were voting after Super Tuesday because he knew that if he survived after Super Tuesday that the states following would be critical for his victory. And the stories about how the Hillary camp was “confused” about the Texas dual primary/caucus system shows that Hillary was not prepared for anything after Super Tuesday. Isn’t Obama being so prepared to win this nomination an indication of his ability to put together a team that could make the correct decisions to deal with the nomination process?
Hillary must have been shell shocked after Super Tuesday. When she woke up the day after Super Tuesday and realized that Obama had actually won more delegates, I think she had to have been in denial. Since Hillary had no plan at that point for the other states, Obama pulled off 12 wins in a row with the lowest winning percentage being 17%. How is this being prepared to run the country on day one when she was not prepared to run a campaign after Super Tuesday?
And worse, is how Hillary has changed her mind many times on if delegates mattered or states mattered or only big states mattered. All of this is because she needs to figure out how she can get some advantage to convince the Super Delegates to support her. The normal delegate count is out of her reach.
And early on she said Obama was all talk and that talk did not matter. This is because he had larger and more excited crowds than she did. Then she said small stated did not matter because he was winning all the small states.
Now she is complaining about how he is out spending her and that is why he is gaining in Pennsylvania. Hillary makes it sound like if she had the same amount of money she would not be spending it.
The reason Obama is outspending her is because he is raising enormous amounts of money and spending is wisely. The same people who attended his auditorium filled speeches are sending Obama $10 and $20 a month. Hillary has not motivated her supporters like Obama has and it is hurting her campaign. Those “empty words” that Obama said during those amazing speeches have brought him millions of dollars.
Obama is now focusing on Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Indiana. Hillary does not have enough money to focus on anything now but Pennsylvania. Anything but a huge win, over 10 points, will make it even harder for Hillary to raise much money. If Obama wins Pennsylvania then Hillary will be forced to drop out due to lack of money.
The story of the 2008 Democratic primary will be how Hillary got out campaigned by a relative newcomer. I am amazed that the Hillary supporters have not been more upset about how she ran her campaign and how she spent the millions of dollars her supporters donated. Is Hillary ready to run the country on day one? I don’t know. But I would have felt more confident is she could have won a nomination that should have been a sure thing.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
