April 17, 2007
The money primary
Detailed data has been released on first quarter contributions to Clinton and Obama. Dick Morris goes for the meaningful minutiae, explaining Obama's strengthening hand. Morris is very consistent with the observations Richard Baehr has made of the race. Here are some of the signs:
Hillary raised extensive contributions, certainly more than $1 million, from special-interest political-action committees (PACs) and lobbyists. Obama refused to tap this source of funding and even returned $50,000 he'd received from lobbyists.
An estimated three-quarters of Clinton's donors have maxed out vs. with fewer than half of Obama's contributors
Morris is well known for his aversion to Hillary, who reputedly once cursed him out in ethnic terms, so one can almost sense the glee he experiences in the signs of a Hillary defeat.Obama out-raised Clinton on the Web by 3:2.Hillary didn't list any expenditures for candidate travel, charter flights, makeup or hair. She may have rolled over this spending so as not to have to deplete her cash-on-hand showing.Without the perks of the Lincoln bedroom, state dinners, pending legislation, plumb appointments, federal contracts and Air Force One flights, the Clintons seem to lack the goodies to bring in the donors.
Hat tip: Ed Lasky