New Obama Email: Campaign Manager Asks 'Why the Hell Romney Picked' Ryan? So 'Corporate Interests' Will Be a 'Heartbeat from the Presidency

In a fundraising letter that may strike some as offensive, Obama's Campaign manager Jim Messina ponders "Why the hell" Presidential candidate Mitt Romney would pick Congressman Paul Ryan as his Vice-Presidential candidate?   He answers his own question by declaring that Romney's "calculation"  is to "inspire ultraconservative ideologues and corporate interests" to donate.  Later he declares that Ryan's addition to the ticket is a reassurance will cause them to donate since they will have  "one of their own a heartbeat from the presidency."

The email, which follows another fundraising letter from Vice President Joe Biden, claims supporters can expect “lying, distorting" ads "trashing Barack Obama."  This attack is ironic, given the latest series of pro-Obama PAC ads have blamed Mitt Romney for seemingly killing a man’s wife who had cancer.

“We're already being outraised, and we can't afford to fall further behind," Messina later bemoans, "hundreds of millions more dollars" may flow into the Romney campaign."

But as we noted yesterday, the alarming language about money is a little misleading. According to Opensecrets.org, the race is a lopsided runaway on fundraising and spending -- in favor of the Obama Campaign.  In fact, it really is not even close.  The Obama Camp has out-raised and out-spent the Romney camp nearly 2 to 1.

See the full text of the fundraising email below:

Congressman Paul Ryan is the poster boy for the extreme Republican leadership in a Congress whose overall approval rating is 12 percent. His plan to dismantle Medicare is deeply unpopular with the general public, and especially undecided voters.

You might be wondering why the hell Romney picked this guy. But this is a strategic pick that carries real danger for us.

Here's the calculation: Mitt Romney doesn't need or expect Paul Ryan to convince even one undecided voter to cast their ballot for him. That's not what he's on the ticket for. He's there to reassure and inspire ultraconservative ideologues and corporate interests that they will have one of their own a heartbeat from the presidency.

That means tens or even hundreds of millions more dollars for the Romney campaign and the array of outside groups supporting him -- and if current trends hold, more than 90 percent of that money will be spent on TV ads -- lying, distorting and trashing Barack Obama. Those ads will have more impact on undecided voters than anything Paul Ryan himself does or says.

Mitt Romney is convinced that picking Paul Ryan is a great investment for him. And his campaign is already touting the pledges and donations they've received as a result, with fundraising events planned for this week.

We're already being outraised, and we can't afford to fall further behind. Our records show that you're still waiting to make your first online donation -- now is the time.

Please donate $5 or more today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Romney-Ryan

More soon.

Messina

Jim Messina

Campaign Manager

Obama for America

--

Related:

• Biden Complains in Email: ‘Wealthy, Right-Wing Ideologues‘ Trying to Buy Election With ’Nasty, Deceptive TV Ads’
• 5 ‘Devastating Secrets’ the Obama Admin Has Allegedly Fought to Keep From the American Public
• Now Obama Releases Incredible Ad Suggesting Romney Paid No Taxes