Politics

Debt-Limit Debate May Cost Obama’s Re-Election Campaign Millions

Barack Obamas Presidential Campaign Says Debt Ceiling Negotiations Cost Fundraising Campaign Millions in DonationsWASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — The elongated and often contentious debate in Washington over the nation‘s debt has had a hefty price tag for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.

Officials expect to raise tens of millions of dollars less this summer than it did in the spring because negotiations over the nation’s debt limit forced Obama to cancel several fundraisers.

Obama’s campaign said Wednesday it canceled or postponed 10 fundraisers involving the president, Vice President Joe Biden and White House chief of staff Bill Daley in the past month because of the debt talks, scrubbing events in California, New York and elsewhere.

Only weeks after the president’s campaign reported collecting a combined $86 million with the Democratic National Committee, Obama’s team is trying to lower expectations about its fundraising juggernaut while signaling to its army of volunteers and activists that they need to fill the void. Obama is coming off a bruising battle with congressional Republicans over raising the government’s debt ceiling and is expected to face a formidable challenge from Republicans in 2012 against the backdrop of a weakened economy.

“We’re going to raise significantly less in the third quarter than we did in the second quarter,” said Jim Messina, Obama’s campaign manager. “We will not be able to replace all of these events just because of his busy schedule. We always knew that he had his job and we had to do this around his schedule, and the truth is we just have to deal with canceling a month’s worth of events.”

Political fundraising operations typically slow down in the summer because many donors are on vacation and high-dollar events don’t usually resume until after Labor Day. During his first presidential campaign, Obama raised about $21 million in the summer of 2007, compared with about $33 million in the spring of that year.

Messina said the campaign had not yet set a revised goal for the current fundraising period ending Sept. 30 but would urge “grass-roots fundraisers” to step up their efforts in the weeks ahead. The campaign has emphasized its large donor base – more than 550,000 people gave money during the spring – and it plans to lean heavily on small donors in August and September.

“We’re going to be very aggressive in trying to find ways to engage the grass roots,” Messina said. “We always said … they‘re the biggest piece of this and they own the campaign and we’re about to give them an even tougher assignment.”

Obama signed legislation on Tuesday to raise the debt limit and avoid a government default, but the negotiations kept him in the Washington area for the past month. Obama’s last fundraiser was in Philadelphia on June 30.

The campaign said the debt talks required Obama to cancel two fundraisers in Southern California and events in Northern California, Seattle, New York and Washington, D.C. Biden had to skip fundraisers in Atlanta, Nashville, Tenn., and Dallas, while Daley canceled an event in the nation’s capital. Obama’s fundraiser in New York at the home of film mogul Harvey Weinstein is expected to be rescheduled for this month, while Biden’s events are being rescheduled for the fall.

Obama is keeping his schedule on Wednesday, attending two fundraisers in Chicago to celebrate his 50th birthday, including a concert with Chicago natives Herbie Hancock and Jennifer Hudson and the Chicago rock band OK Go. Obama turns 50 on Thursday. Interestingly, it seems Obama will likely be the youngest contender in the 2012 race (pending others jump into the ring later on). Bloomberg has more on the birthday celebration and its benefits to the campaign:

The concert and dinner for more than 1,000 donors will be at the Aragon Entertainment Center, a Spanish-style concert hall on the city’s north side that can accommodate up to 4,500 people. Ticket prices range from $50 to the legal maximum of $35,800.

The money will go to the Obama Victory Fund 2012, a joint Obama campaign and Democratic National Committee fund, according to a Democratic official who wasn’t authorized to discuss the event and spoke on condition of anonymity. Obama’s campaign can accept $5,000 of each $35,800 contribution.

Republicans have accused the president of emphasizing campaign money over governing, criticizing plans for the lavish birthday party.

“With 9.2 percent unemployment, he could work on creating jobs, but I suppose the White House is thinking he should stick to the part of his job he really likes,” Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said.

As part of Obama’s birthday events, Democratic officials and campaign aides are fanning out across the country for fundraisers: former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs and deputy campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon will be in Boston, White House adviser David Plouffe will be in Tampa, Fla., New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will headline a New York City event and Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod will be in Los Angeles. Other events with Democratic surrogates will be held in Austin, Texas; Oakland, Calif.; and Washington, D.C.

Besides the birthday fundraisers, the campaign is planning hundreds of house parties around the country and has asked supporters to recruit 50 new supporters for the president’s birthday.

Comments (108)

1 2 3
  • dirtypolitics
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:37am

    Boycott actors and companies who donate to Pres Obama.

    Partial List of Hollywood stars:

    -Ophra Winfrey
    -George Clooney,
    -Michael Douglas,
    -Sharon Stone,
    -Michael Keaton,
    -Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson,

    -Steven Spielberg and his wife, actress Kate Capshaw
    -Jennifer Garner
    -Gwyneth Paltrow
    -Alec Baldwin
    -Tony Shalhoub of “Monk;”
    -Jane Lynch of “Glee;”
    -Dennis Haysbert, who played a president on “24”, All State-Scott Bakula and
    -Richard Dean Anderson.
    -Vanessa Williams,
    -Anthony Edwards of “ER,”
    -John Cho of “Star Trek,”
    -Jennifer Morrison of “House,”
    -Christa Miller of “Cougar Town,” and
    -Brenda Strong of “Desperate Housewives
    -George Lopez – not funny comedian

    Report Post »  
    • cane247
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 11:33am

      AND the companies that advertise on CNN, NBC, MSNBC, CBS and ABC. Watch them all squirm.

      Report Post » cane247  
    • Doc_Slammin
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 6:55pm

      @Cane247

      The best way to make a television network squirm is to not view ANY of their programming. Their advertisers will find where the new market is and follow it.

      None of the networks your mentioned grace my television screen. ;)

      Report Post » Doc_Slammin  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:35am

      And TIVO everything on FOXNEWS, FOXBUSINESS and EVERY conservative show you can find.
      With tivo and DVR boxes, they get ratings electronically, so, when you TIVO 2 airings of a show, it counts twice. Then, just delete one. Hell, I tivo ALL of em, and delete most of em, just to give em a ratings bump!

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • AOL_REFUGEE
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 12:11pm

      Some toilet full of @sswypes you got there. Just flush it.

      Report Post » AOL_REFUGEE  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:28am

    Let’s pray it costs him everything and we replace him with a real president in 2012.
    I wonder if we could sell him to venezuela after the inauguration…???

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:44am

      The article should read, we saved tax payers millions of dollars. I don’t think we should have to foot the bill for Airforce One when used to get to a fundraiser. Let him pay for it out of his own pocket.

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:56am

      We‘d probably have to PAY Venezuela to take him and it’s not worth it.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Ella
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 12:15pm

      Send him to Egypt.

      Report Post »  
    • Servant Of YHVH
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 3:01pm

      @gaspar
      “I wonder if we could sell him to venezuela after the inauguration…???”
      Forget that! We will pay Venezuela to take him as long as the promise to never let him come back here.

      Report Post » Servant Of YHVH  
  • cntrlfrk
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:25am

    ‘

    Doesn’t matter. Soros has hundred of $BILLION$

    .

    Report Post » cntrlfrk  
    • toworreed2sleep
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 1:07pm

      cntrlfrk, you’re right about that, so it doesnt matter what the campaign raises, Soros will match it, to make sure his puppet can totally derail the country.

      Report Post » toworreed2sleep  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:21am

    Yes indeed; once we have settled on a candidate, people will help to NOT GET POSER BARRY elected again. He has to go, go, go. He’s done enough damage, so let’s clean it up in 2012.

    Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:28am

      Seems strange that a candidate can put as much bad mouth on rich folks as this one does and still get donations to keep him in office from those same rich folks. I think the truth of the matter is that rich folks don’t pay taxes anyway with an army of accounts and a tax code full of loopholes so they know the trickle down theory will prevail. So I guess the real tax increases are you.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • LAMET
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:37am

      With all the reports of RICH democrats (Steve Wynn as an example) speaking out against Obama and his SOCIALIST policies – are pulling their financial support – so they are CLAIMING it was because we had to cancel fundraisers – YEAH RIGHT

      George Soros is no longer backing Obama either!

      Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:12am

    .
    NEWS FLASH!!!!!!….

    CDC releases Information about Gonorrhea Lectim

    The CDC has issued a warning about a new virulent strain of this old disease. The Disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim. It’s pronounced “Gonna re-elect ‘em”, and it is a terrible Obamanation.

    The disease is contracted through high risk behavior involving putting your Head Up your Butt. Many victims contracted it in 2008…but now most people, after having been infected for the last 2 years, are starting to realize how destructive this sickness is.

    It’s sad because Gonorrhea Lectim is easily cured with a new drug just hitting the market called Votemout, pronounced “Vote ‘em Out. You should take your first dose as soon as possible and a second dose right before the 2012 election, this should limit your ability to engage in such behavior again; otherwise, it could become permanent and eventually wipe out all life as we know it.

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • flagbearer
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:10am

    I intend to work to oust every senator and representative that voted for this nightmare of a bill. They do not deserve to be our representatives. If they think the Tea Party is going away, they’re nuts. If they didn’t hear us last November, we’ll be even louder in 2012. Unfortunately, it may be too little, too late. Everything is on a fast track now. Start repeating these points:

    1) Obama promised transparency, and every major piece of legislation in his administration has been done behind closed doors.
    2) The Democrats use scare tactics on the elderly and military to get their way.
    3) The Democrats are racists, keeping blacks on Uncle Sam’s plantation.
    4) The Democrats are socialists and communists.
    5) The Democrats are anti-Israel.
    6) The Democrats are anti-middle class and poor.
    7) The Democrats are against American sovereignty.
    8) The Democrats are hurting the poor and the blacks.
    9) The Democrats are favoring ultra-rich people and corporations and oil, such as BP, GE, George
    Soros, Hollywood, etc., etc.
    10) The Democrats are anti-children and elderly.

    Repeat it , repeat it, and repeat it. Get the message out.

    Report Post »  
    • 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:16am

      You are correct sir. (Ed McMahon voice)

      Report Post » 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM  
    • flagbearer
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:20am

      11) The Democrats are anti-jobs.
      12) The Tea Party is for ALL Americans–poor, the middle class, the elederly. Stop the class warfare and unite as one people again.
      13) The Tea Party are the good guys in the white hats.

      Please continue the list. Use sound bites as liberals do. so Americans hear. We need to do a better job of promoting conservatism. I am tired of being on the defense. Take up offense positions. We have allowed them to demonize the right far too long. Write letters to your editors, demand the truth on local stations. Speak out to friends, neighbors. Speak out at church. I can no longer worry about being polite and avoiding religion and politics as topics of conversation.

      Report Post »  
    • RESTOREVALUES
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 6:10pm

      all the democrats in congress are the same as sharpton and jackson feeding off the poor and blaming the other side. its just like three card monte. look over there while i pick your pocket. they make themselves millionaires off our tax dollars and keep you in your place.

      Report Post » RESTOREVALUES  
  • geonj
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:09am

    what a shame, the president of the United States of America had to stop his 3 year long campaign tour to govern. and he did that poorly.

    Report Post » geonj  
  • sweathog1948
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:08am

    At first I was angry about Obama leaving the white house to campaign, then I remenbered he was a community organizer, that is really his job.Being the prez. is a hobby for Obama.

    I have never seen a prez gone so much from his duties as prez, or a prez that uses the tax payers money for his own purposes. When has other first lady spent MILLIONS to vacation is Spain in which the tax payer picked up the tab.

    If Obama ran on his record he would defintly lose. I can see Obama saying he has only started to fulfill what he promised to do and needs 4 more years to reach his goal.He has done a good job on bringing this country down, lord forbid he gets another 4 years. Just think of all the vacations he can take and golf to play in four more years.

    It is plain to see he is not a leader, and can not even get a yearly budget put out. Like I said being a prez of our great country is only a HOBBY for this thin skinned child in a mans clothing.

    Report Post »  
    • 48
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 1:17pm

      This Pres and his admin should be investigated. It is absolutly freightening what they are doing to this country. This guy makes Bush look like a saint.

      Report Post »  
  • Cheetosareus
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:07am

    There is something odd about all this “birthday” fundraising hoopla. Obama’s birthday is the darkest day in American history and should never be celebrated. Most dictators have big birthday celebrations with parades and it looks like his handlers in the DNC are trying to drum up another government holiday.

    Report Post »  
  • eyestoseeearstohear
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:04am

    I HOPE all the billions & GA-ZILLIONS he raises for his campaign –
    that he STILL LOSES!

    EVEN IF jobs are created – unemployment drops to ZERO -
    OBAMA MUST GO!!!!

    AND – he shouldn’t just QUIETLY GO OFF INTO THE SUNSET -
    HE SHOULD GO TO JAIL FOR HIS MANY CRIMES AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION
    AND MANY OTHER CRIMES.

    Report Post »  
  • powhatan
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:02am

    Not really, he just got himself a new SLUSH fund to give to his cronies so they can give it back to him…all paid for by us taxpayers…This guy gives slick Willie pause.

    Report Post » powhatan  
  • the wireworker
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:01am

    NO! ….it costs the american taxpayers milllions

    Report Post » the wireworker  
    • agameofthrones
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:10am

      Anyone who donates money to this wanna-be dictator would be better off spending their money on infomercial products. They actually deliver some of what they promise.

      Report Post » agameofthrones  
  • MidWestMom
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:59am

    So he had to stay home and do his job instead of running around campaigning & drumming up dollars? Wow, now that’s harsh. [heavy sarcasm]

    Report Post »  
  • Cheetosareus
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:58am

    I though he said his priority was “JOBS”. Turns out his priority is getting his arse re-elected.
    He’s said “JOBS” was his priority in 2009, 2010 and now in 2011…but ZERO jobs were created in June and the GDP is flat. To day the stock market is down and there is no growth…but Obama jets off to fund raisers while Putin calls the US a parasite on the world economy and China hacks the Pentagon.
    We will not begin to recover until we get Obama and his team of liberal idiots out of the governement.

    Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:03am

      >>Officials expect to raise tens of millions of dollars less this summer than it did in the spring because negotiations over the nation’s debt limit forced Obama to cancel several fundraisers.<<

      Awww, how sad. How dare the job get in the way of campaigning to get re-elected to the job. The very audacity!

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • flagbearer
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 12:21pm

      The only job he’s worried about is his own. How people can defend, much less praise, this man is beyond understanding.

      Report Post »  
  • junkmaninohio
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:55am

    Never fear. Obama can count on huge cash contributions from the self hating Jewish community, unions, media, Hollywood and voter fraud to win reelection. Millions will be poured into his campaign coffers before the summer ends.

    Report Post »  
  • olddog
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:52am

    The massive cyber attacks on America came from the Chinese, America should fine them $20 Trillion.

    Report Post » olddog  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:54am

      Better idea; hack their banks and cancel all US debts, along with transfering all their wealth to our banks for closing out the federal debt.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Truthbeliever2
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:23am

      will be hard to hack the Chinese considering they have the worlds fastest super computer…

      Report Post » Truthbeliever2  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:48am

    .
    Obama goes to a primary school to talk to the kids to get a little PR. After his talk he offers question time. One little boy puts up his hand and Obama asks him his name.

    ” Walter,” responds the little boy.

    “And what is your question, Walter?”

    “I have 4 questions:

    First, why did the USA Bomb Libya without the support of the Congress?
    Second, why do you keep saying you fixed the economy when it’s actually worse?
    Third, why did you say that Jeremiah Wright was your mentor, then said that you knew nothing about his preachings and beliefs?
    Fourth, why are we so worried about Brazil drilling for oil, but we aren’t allowed to?”

    Just then, the bell rings for recess. Obama informs the kiddies that they will continue after recess.

    When they resume Obama says, “OK, where were we? Oh, that’s right: question time. Who has a question?”

    Another little boy puts up his hand. Obama points him out and asks him his name.

    “Steve,” he responds.

    “And what is your question, Steve?”

    Actually, I have 6 questions.

    First, why did the USA Bomb Libya without the support of the Congress?
    Second, why do you keep saying you fixed the economy when it’s actually worse?
    Third, why did you say that Jeremiah Wright was your mentor, then said that you knew nothing about his preachings and beliefs?
    Fourth, why are we so worried about Brazil drilling for oil, but we aren’t allowed to?
    Fifth, why did the recess bell go off 20 minutes early?
    And s

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • Son_of_Liberty
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:46am

    “The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.” Thomas Jefferson

    NObama 2012

    Ron Paul 2012

    3%

    Report Post » Son_of_Liberty  
  • UlyssesP
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:45am

    He‘s so busy trying to keep his job while he don’t care a rat’s ass about those of us that have lost ours.
    Hope And Change sucks.

    Report Post » UlyssesP  
  • ChiefGeorge
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:43am

    Oh I don’t think he has to worry about it too much. He’ll get re-elected just watch and see.

    Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
    • Cheetosareus
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:01am

      There are plenty of stupid ignorant uninformed people who will vote for him .. but I don’t think there are enough of them to keep him in office.

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:40am

    Awww, poor Barry, had to take time off from campaigning…for the first time in his life.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • brickhouse_22
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:17am

      He’s been campaigning for re-election since the day he took the oath.

      Report Post » brickhouse_22  
  • ENTITLEMENTSBLOW
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:39am

    This country cannot handle 4 more years of this crap! Stop Spending more than you take in!

    Report Post » ENTITLEMENTSBLOW  
  • NotFooled
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:39am

    Cost Obama’s “Re-Election” Campaign Millions? The only way this puppet will get re-elected is if he steals the election like Harry Reid did in Nevada. But I hear Acorn is good at setting Union members up at voting centers and registering dead people as voter.

    Report Post » NotFooled  
  • handsoffmystuff
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:38am

    BS!!!! He’s got a brand new 2 Trillion dollar slush fund to hand out to the SEIU, Acorn, Soros, and his media cronies.

    Report Post »  
    • olddog
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:03am

      We aint having to worry bout nuttin no mo cause Obama be president. We don’t have to worry bout our rent or gas or anything cause Obama be taking care of us. We’re here to get some money
      (what kind of money) Obama money…. Okay kids lets all sing the Obama song..
      Everybody remember this, some of the statement made by people that voted BO, that’s about 40% of democrats that are sucking the life out of our country…It took BO to get us old folks off our sofas and start fighting back, we were silent far to long…

      Report Post » olddog  
  • Locked
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:37am

    As he’s already ahead of his opponents by a long-shot, I don‘t think he’s too concerned. Time for the GOP to pick their horse and focus on them. I also liked this quote:
    ““With 9.2 percent unemployment, he could work on creating jobs, but I suppose the White House is thinking he should stick to the part of his job he really likes,” Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said.”

    Wonder if she’ll say the same about every GOP contender?

    Report Post »  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:42am

      “With 9.2 percent unemployment, he could work on creating jobs, but I suppose the White House is thinking he should stick to the part of his job he really likes,” Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said.

      And we know what part THAT is: PAR-TAY, baby!! Break out the checkbooks and let’s Dougie!

      Hussein Obumbler is such a d.o.osh…..

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:48am

      The money will be there for our guy when we pick one, don’t worry. Business people know we can‘t survive Barry’s second term.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
1 2 3

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love