Obama has edge in primary funds, joins Clinton with $30 million/In Chicago, Democrats court trial lawyers - 5 seek to distinguish themselves, rip Bush
Obama has edge in primary funds, joins Clinton with $30 million-plus
By Mike Dorning and John McCormick
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
Published July 16, 2007
WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama edged his way to a financial advantage over front-runner Hillary Clinton as both Democrats on Sunday reported amassing imposing campaign war chests of more than $30 million each for the presidential primaries.
With six months to go before the first votes are cast, Obama reported more than $34 million in cash available for the primary campaign, slightly more than the $33 million that the former first lady held on June 30, aides said.
Clinton showed a larger bank balance of $45 million. But $12 million of that was restricted funds that cannot be used for a presidential primary campaign, only for a later general election campaign. Obama reported an overall balance of $36.3 million.
Primary candidates can accept donations only up to $2,300 per contributor, but donors also are allowed to contribute the same amount to a general-election campaign. The Obama campaign has not aggressively sought general-election contributions, which in this phase of the election cycle typically come only from big-dollar contributors.
Obama and Clinton revealed their financial data a few hours before a midnight deadline on Sunday for presidential candidates to file detailed disclosures of campaign finances during the April through June quarter. Most of the major Republican candidates filed their reports Friday.
Fundraising is only one component in a presidential campaign. Other forces such as shifting public sentiments, the campaign message and a candidate's performance during an exhausting, pressure-filled contest also are crucial to the outcome. And past candidates such as Democrat Howard Dean in 2004 and Republican Phil Gramm in 1996 have lost primaries despite leading in fundraising the previous year.
In this year's Democratic contest, Clinton retains a considerable lead in national polls.
Still, Obama's fundraising has been a formidable achievement. He attracted more than 258,000 donors this year. During the second quarter, he received $32.9 million in contributions, at least $31 million for the primary campaign, according to Obama aides.
New York replaced Chicago as Obama's top fundraising city during the second quarter, with the Big Apple contributing at least $2 million to his total, as compared with $1.8 million for Chicago. Neither total includes contributions from suburban areas surrounding those cities.
Although Obama's financial advantage is slight, he now has more financial resources available for the primary than Clinton, who began the race with $10 million left over from her 2006 Senate re-election campaign and an established network of donors and fundraisers.
Clinton raised $27.1 million during the quarter, of which $21.5 million can be used for the primary.
But the New York senator kept tighter control of expenses, spending $12.5 million during the quarter compared with $16 million that Obama spent.
While Democrat John Edwards trailed far behind his party's front-runners, he maintained a solid third-place position in finances, reporting a campaign war chest of $12 million available for the primaries, up $2 million from the previous quarter.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who filed his disclosure a day early, reported $7.1 million.
Edwards received a surge of contributions following a June 26 dust-up with conservative talk-show host Ann Coulter, accounting for more than a quarter of his contributions over the three-month period.
Edwards' wife, Elizabeth, phoned in to a broadcast of MSNBC's "Hardball" for an on-air confrontation with Coulter, whose personal attacks on John Edwards have included describing him with a slur directed at homosexuals. The campaign featured the exchange in an e-mail fundraising appeal that began the same day.
The next day was the second-biggest fundraising day for the quarter, bringing in $368,000.
Two other Democrats who filed their disclosures on Sunday spent more on their campaigns than they received during the quarter.
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) spent $4.4 million while raising only $3.3 million, finishing the quarter with $6.4 million in cash, $5.9 million available for the primary campaign.
Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) spent $2.5 million while raising $2.4 million. He reported $2.8 million in cash on hand, with $2.2 million for the primary.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) reported cash on hand of $3.2 million and $1.8 million in campaign debt.
- - -
Cash on hand
Primary campaign cash on hand in millions as of June 30 as reported by leading presidential candidates:
DEMOCRATS
Barack Obama: $34
Hilary Clinton: $33
John Edwards: $12
Bill Richardson: $7.1
Joseph Biden: $2.2
REPUBLICANS
Rudolph Giuliani: $14.6
Mitt Romney: $12.1
John McCain: Not yet reported
Source: Tribune staff reports
----------
Mike Dorning reported from Washington and John McCormick reported from Chicago.
mdorning@tribune.com
mccormickj@tribune.com
In Chicago, Democrats court trial lawyers - 5 seek to distinguish themselves, rip Bush
By Rick Pearson and John McCormick
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
Published July 16, 2007
Sen. Hillary Clinton on Sunday labeled President Bush's tenure in the White House "the most radical presidency" in U.S. history, as she and four other Democratic presidential contenders courted the support of the nation's influential trial lawyers at a meeting in Chicago.
Clinton, along with Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, each contended the Bush White House has failed to respect the rule of law in its efforts to combat terrorism and other areas.
In separate 20-minute remarks, the contenders sought to draw attention to their perceived strengths before an organization of some of the Democratic Party's most dependable and prolific campaign fundraisers. Each of the candidates received a standing ovation.
But Clinton, the last to speak, was the harshest in criticizing the president.
"We need to continue America's forward motion toward progress, toward that more perfect union," Clinton told a large, crowded convention room at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, addressing the political action committee of the American Association of Justice, formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
"In the last six and a half years we have seen a dangerous experiment in extremism in the White House," she said. "President Bush campaigned as a compassionate conservative. It turns out he is neither. He has proven that time and time again. I would argue that his is the most radical presidency we have ever had."
As each of the five outlined their plans for a redeployment of U.S. troops in Iraq, Clinton, Obama and some of the others called for the closure of the military's detention center for suspected terrorists at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.
Obama, who formerly lectured on constitutional law at the University of Chicago, accused the Bush administration of subverting justice for political gain.
He contended the White House "pardons injustice and perverts our laws to protect their friends and interests" and cited Bush's recent commutation of the prison sentence of Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.
"People are tired of Scooter Libby justice," Obama maintained.
Edwards, formerly a successful trial lawyer, received some of the most vocal encouragement of the group. He said he has watched "a very orchestrated radical right agenda" to limit the access of ordinary citizens to the courts.
"It's not enough for you to like a candidate. It's not even enough for you to agree with a candidate," Edwards said. "We must, my party, the Democratic Party, we must nominate a candidate who will win the general election."
Richardson, the only non-lawyer of the five to address the group, also emphasized choosing a candidate who can win.
"There are candidates projecting themselves for change. Some are projecting themselves for experience. And I believe I bring to the table change and experience," Richardson said.
Of the five, Biden, a former Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, focused almost exclusively on the Iraq war rather than more specific legal issues before the group.
The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden noted his national and international experience and said Bush has left "virtually no margin for error" for the nation's next president.
Earlier on Sunday, Obama told a standing-room-only congregation at Vernon Park Church of God on the South Side that the government, the gun lobby and the public need to do more to stop the "unacceptable" gun violence involving children.
----------
rap30@aol.com
mccormickj@tribune.com
By Mike Dorning and John McCormick
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
Published July 16, 2007
WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama edged his way to a financial advantage over front-runner Hillary Clinton as both Democrats on Sunday reported amassing imposing campaign war chests of more than $30 million each for the presidential primaries.
With six months to go before the first votes are cast, Obama reported more than $34 million in cash available for the primary campaign, slightly more than the $33 million that the former first lady held on June 30, aides said.
Clinton showed a larger bank balance of $45 million. But $12 million of that was restricted funds that cannot be used for a presidential primary campaign, only for a later general election campaign. Obama reported an overall balance of $36.3 million.
Primary candidates can accept donations only up to $2,300 per contributor, but donors also are allowed to contribute the same amount to a general-election campaign. The Obama campaign has not aggressively sought general-election contributions, which in this phase of the election cycle typically come only from big-dollar contributors.
Obama and Clinton revealed their financial data a few hours before a midnight deadline on Sunday for presidential candidates to file detailed disclosures of campaign finances during the April through June quarter. Most of the major Republican candidates filed their reports Friday.
Fundraising is only one component in a presidential campaign. Other forces such as shifting public sentiments, the campaign message and a candidate's performance during an exhausting, pressure-filled contest also are crucial to the outcome. And past candidates such as Democrat Howard Dean in 2004 and Republican Phil Gramm in 1996 have lost primaries despite leading in fundraising the previous year.
In this year's Democratic contest, Clinton retains a considerable lead in national polls.
Still, Obama's fundraising has been a formidable achievement. He attracted more than 258,000 donors this year. During the second quarter, he received $32.9 million in contributions, at least $31 million for the primary campaign, according to Obama aides.
New York replaced Chicago as Obama's top fundraising city during the second quarter, with the Big Apple contributing at least $2 million to his total, as compared with $1.8 million for Chicago. Neither total includes contributions from suburban areas surrounding those cities.
Although Obama's financial advantage is slight, he now has more financial resources available for the primary than Clinton, who began the race with $10 million left over from her 2006 Senate re-election campaign and an established network of donors and fundraisers.
Clinton raised $27.1 million during the quarter, of which $21.5 million can be used for the primary.
But the New York senator kept tighter control of expenses, spending $12.5 million during the quarter compared with $16 million that Obama spent.
While Democrat John Edwards trailed far behind his party's front-runners, he maintained a solid third-place position in finances, reporting a campaign war chest of $12 million available for the primaries, up $2 million from the previous quarter.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who filed his disclosure a day early, reported $7.1 million.
Edwards received a surge of contributions following a June 26 dust-up with conservative talk-show host Ann Coulter, accounting for more than a quarter of his contributions over the three-month period.
Edwards' wife, Elizabeth, phoned in to a broadcast of MSNBC's "Hardball" for an on-air confrontation with Coulter, whose personal attacks on John Edwards have included describing him with a slur directed at homosexuals. The campaign featured the exchange in an e-mail fundraising appeal that began the same day.
The next day was the second-biggest fundraising day for the quarter, bringing in $368,000.
Two other Democrats who filed their disclosures on Sunday spent more on their campaigns than they received during the quarter.
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) spent $4.4 million while raising only $3.3 million, finishing the quarter with $6.4 million in cash, $5.9 million available for the primary campaign.
Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) spent $2.5 million while raising $2.4 million. He reported $2.8 million in cash on hand, with $2.2 million for the primary.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) reported cash on hand of $3.2 million and $1.8 million in campaign debt.
- - -
Cash on hand
Primary campaign cash on hand in millions as of June 30 as reported by leading presidential candidates:
DEMOCRATS
Barack Obama: $34
Hilary Clinton: $33
John Edwards: $12
Bill Richardson: $7.1
Joseph Biden: $2.2
REPUBLICANS
Rudolph Giuliani: $14.6
Mitt Romney: $12.1
John McCain: Not yet reported
Source: Tribune staff reports
----------
Mike Dorning reported from Washington and John McCormick reported from Chicago.
mdorning@tribune.com
mccormickj@tribune.com
In Chicago, Democrats court trial lawyers - 5 seek to distinguish themselves, rip Bush
By Rick Pearson and John McCormick
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
Published July 16, 2007
Sen. Hillary Clinton on Sunday labeled President Bush's tenure in the White House "the most radical presidency" in U.S. history, as she and four other Democratic presidential contenders courted the support of the nation's influential trial lawyers at a meeting in Chicago.
Clinton, along with Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, each contended the Bush White House has failed to respect the rule of law in its efforts to combat terrorism and other areas.
In separate 20-minute remarks, the contenders sought to draw attention to their perceived strengths before an organization of some of the Democratic Party's most dependable and prolific campaign fundraisers. Each of the candidates received a standing ovation.
But Clinton, the last to speak, was the harshest in criticizing the president.
"We need to continue America's forward motion toward progress, toward that more perfect union," Clinton told a large, crowded convention room at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, addressing the political action committee of the American Association of Justice, formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
"In the last six and a half years we have seen a dangerous experiment in extremism in the White House," she said. "President Bush campaigned as a compassionate conservative. It turns out he is neither. He has proven that time and time again. I would argue that his is the most radical presidency we have ever had."
As each of the five outlined their plans for a redeployment of U.S. troops in Iraq, Clinton, Obama and some of the others called for the closure of the military's detention center for suspected terrorists at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.
Obama, who formerly lectured on constitutional law at the University of Chicago, accused the Bush administration of subverting justice for political gain.
He contended the White House "pardons injustice and perverts our laws to protect their friends and interests" and cited Bush's recent commutation of the prison sentence of Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.
"People are tired of Scooter Libby justice," Obama maintained.
Edwards, formerly a successful trial lawyer, received some of the most vocal encouragement of the group. He said he has watched "a very orchestrated radical right agenda" to limit the access of ordinary citizens to the courts.
"It's not enough for you to like a candidate. It's not even enough for you to agree with a candidate," Edwards said. "We must, my party, the Democratic Party, we must nominate a candidate who will win the general election."
Richardson, the only non-lawyer of the five to address the group, also emphasized choosing a candidate who can win.
"There are candidates projecting themselves for change. Some are projecting themselves for experience. And I believe I bring to the table change and experience," Richardson said.
Of the five, Biden, a former Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, focused almost exclusively on the Iraq war rather than more specific legal issues before the group.
The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden noted his national and international experience and said Bush has left "virtually no margin for error" for the nation's next president.
Earlier on Sunday, Obama told a standing-room-only congregation at Vernon Park Church of God on the South Side that the government, the gun lobby and the public need to do more to stop the "unacceptable" gun violence involving children.
----------
rap30@aol.com
mccormickj@tribune.com
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