President Obama’s re-election campaign, looking to build up strength while the GOP field fights for the nomination, is planning to raise at least $60 million in the next quarter. The money would include both donations to Obama’s own campaign as well as to the Democratic National Committee.
Top Democratic officials and donors discussed the goal in a meeting in downtown Washington on Wednesday, according to Reuters, part of a broader plan to raise $750 million before election day. Some observers have suggested the campaign could cross the $1 billion mark.
Since officially launching in April, the re-election campaign has been trying to revive its grassroots support from 2008 with emails asking people to donate and organize early on in the race. Campaign manager Jim Messina, formerly the deputy chief of staff in the Obama White House, sent out an email on Wednesday calling on small donors to make a contribution this week, which larger fundraisers would agree to match.
“Taking ownership of the campaign is an essential part of the experience, right alongside making phone calls, knocking on doors, and taking responsibility for getting your network of friends, colleagues, and neighbors to join us,” the email read. “Relying on each other to own this campaign isn’t just the most viable way we can grow a truly grassroots organization — it’s also the right way to do politics. Taking money from Washington lobbyists or special-interest PACs is the easy path — and every single one of our prospective opponents is racing down it.”
Benjy Sarlin
Benjy Sarlin is a reporter for Talking Points Memo and co-writes the campaign blog, TPM2012. He previously reported for The Daily Beast/Newsweek as their Washington Correspondent and covered local politics for the New York Sun.
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