Reply #57: Well, that's a pretty convenient way to mask it. Besides, the only significant way it matters is

[trayNTP]

in how it translates into coverage for the candidate. The amount of money itself has less to do with who people vote for than the positive press that comes from a candidate being the choice of the industries that advertise or the companies that own the networks, which Obama was in 2008.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/sourceall.php?cycle=2008
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/sectorallc.php?cycle=2008
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contriball.php?cycle=2008

He's worried about 2012 because he wants to remain President, and for the same reason Democrats were concerned about the 2010 mid-terms. Because nothing's guaranteed. He knows who decides who becomes President, and it's not the sheeple.