The Pink Flamingo :: Can I Do An I Told You So?

Last week I wrote that I think Barack Obama could be on the verge of having money problems. I know the latest FEC reports show him way out ahead, but we need to remember the reports are dated to the end of March. In April, sources report that he is spending something like 2.2 mil a day. That’s a heck of a lot of money. The man has milked his subjects for nearly $250 million. I don’t see how he can continue at that pace. Just how much money is out there – from small donors – with the dollar going nowhere these days. Let’s be honest here. It doesn’t make sense. I still think he is going to opt for public financing. But, always remember, with Barack Obama, it’s a mind game. He’s a bully and a fake. He relies on his flunkies to harass, terrorize, and push his opposition into the corner with smoke and mirrors. I think at the end of the summer he will have no choice but to take public funds. In fact, I found this the other day.

“…Sen. Barack Obama said his interest in limiting spending in the general election has not waned, but will not agree to it unless the presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain does, too. "What I said very early on is that I would sit down with my Republican opponent and try to find a way to preserve public financing. I was the one who asked whether this was an option," Mr. Obama said in an interview with the Post-Gazette aboard a his whistle-stop campaign train today. Mr. McCain has characterized Mr. Obama has toying with the idea of opting out of public financing if he wins the Democratic nomination.
Both candidates told the Federal Elections Commission in March, saying they would accept $85 million in public money to finance their campaigns in lieu of collecting private contributions. Now that Mr. Obama has raised about $193 million to Mr. McCain's $65.6 million, he says he will only follow through on that agreement if there are assurances that political action committees and others follow the spirit of the agreement, too. He pointed to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth's involvement in the 2000 election. The group ran commercials attacking Democratic candidate Sen. John F. Kerry and its leaders donated millions to President Bush's campaign. "I don't want Democrats to heavily disarm if we can't create a system where outside parties and third parties run Swift Boat ads, outspending the Democratic nominee," he said. "That's not something I would agree to. I want to make sure everybody plays by the same rules."..."

Evidently Barack Obama had something like $51 million on hand at the beginning of April to take out Hillary. Now, if one considers how much he is spending, well?

McCain’s FEC Report

On April 20, 2008, John McCain’s campaign filed its April Monthly FEC Report. This report covers the period of Mar. 1 - 31, 2008. Here’s the breakdown:
Total Raised In March: $15,428,882
Money Spent In March: $11,845,764.05
Cash On Hand At End Of March: $11,579,713.65
—> For Primary: Approx $42,500,000
—> For General Election: $8,600,000
Debts Owed To Campaign: $77,259.74
Debts Owed By Campaign: $707,041.91…”

Obama’s FEC Report

“…On April 20, 2008, Barack Obama’s campaign filed its April Monthly FEC Report. This report covers the period of Mar. 1 - 31, 2008. Here’s the breakdown:
Total Raised In March: $42,832,120.65
Money Spent In March: $30,591,210.20
Cash On Hand At End Of March: $51,073,999.99
—> For Primary: Approx $42,500,000
—> For General Election: $8,600,000
Debts: $662,784.55….”

(FYI – your MUST READ Obama-rama today is over at Texas Fred’s. He has a link to the best commentary I’ve read to date about Obama.)

Hillary’s FEC

“…On April 20, 2008, Hillary Clinton’s campaign filed its April Monthly FEC Report. This report covers the period of Mar. 1 - 31, 2008. Here’s the breakdown:
Total Raised In March: $20,931,870.78
Money Spent In March: $22,372,765.27
Cash On Hand At End Of March: $31,712,197.67
—> For Primary: Approx $9,000,000
—> For General Election: Approx $22,000,000
Debts: $10,321,562.87…”

According to Hot Air & The Politico John McCain is going to take public financing for the general election. I think he will be joined by Obama. If not, he has yet another way to attack Obama.

CQ Politics on the fundraising of March.