Obama keeps Dean at DNC, bans lobbyist money
Barack Obama, now cast as the Democrats' standard-bearer, moved quickly to put his imprint on the national party Thursday, eager to reinforce its fundraising operation and pursue an aggressive general election campaign.
Howard Dean will remain as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, an affirmation by Obama of Dean's bottoms-up rebuilding of the party across all 50 states. Still, Obama is installing one of his top strategists, Paul Tewes, to help expand the DNC staff and oversee party operations.
The move puts Obama's ample fundraising machine at the party's disposal. In so doing, Obama imposed on the DNC the same ban on money from federal lobbyists and political action committees that he has placed on his campaign.
The DNC has trailed its GOP counterpart in fundraising. Over the past 17 months, the Republican National Committee has raised $166 million to the Democratic National Committee's $82.3 million. The DNC also has spent heavily, leaving little cash on hand while the Republican National Committee has built its reserves.
At the end of May, the RNC had nearly $54 million in the bank to the DNC's $4 million.
That Republican advantage is overshadowed by Obama's sizable edge over presumed Republican nominee John McCain. At the end of May, McCain had raised $115 million and had $31.5 million in the bank. Obama has not announced his May totals, but at the end of April had raised $264 million and had $46.5 million in the bank.
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Member Comments
Posted By: tired and old @ 06/06/2008 6:36:57 PM
Comment: JUST A SHORT VISIT.
HOLY " TOILET PAPER HOLDER "; DID YOU GRADUATE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY CLASS ?
DID THEY EXPLAIN THAT HUSBANDRY DID NOT MEAN HUSBAND ?
DID YOU REALLY FALL IN LOVE WITH A SHEEP.
YOUR CHOICE, YOUR LIFE STYLE.
Posted By: tired and old @ 06/06/2008 6:30:06 PM
Comment: KEEPING HOWARD DEAN ON AS DNC CHAIMAN --- PRICELESS !
HE DID NOT CAVE IN ON FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN PROBLEM.
IMAGINE THAT------ A DEMOCRAT FOLLOWING RULES.
Posted By: metzlerd @ 06/06/2008 5:05:31 PM
Comment: No one said he never accepted money from them. He just had not done so since he made the decision to run his campaigns that way. Even you were not born with an opinion on lobbyists. Over time you develop your stances on issues. At that time he wasn't saying he didn't take money either.
Furthermore, it isn't that elected officials should never talk to anybody. They just should not be pesuaded by monetary gifts.
Regarding lobbyists that work for him. There are none at the top of his campaign. They might volunteer as campaign chairs for state get out the vote or campaign organizers at state and local levels. I don't think anyone has eliminated the lobbyists right to vote or support a candidate. They just don't have the daily direct access or the ability to influence his stances on the issues.
But really, I doubt McCain campaign supporters want to get in a discussion about lobbyists working for candidates. McCain is surrounded by them at the top levels.