Obama's Money Can't Buy Clinton's Honey

[rinsd]

By: Peter A. Brown
Jul 14, 2007 09:00 AM EST


Money, goes the old adage, is more important to those who don't have it. That might explain why the news media has decided Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's very impressive fundraising has greatly increased his odds of stopping New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s drive toward the Democratic presidential nomination.

As important as cash can be in campaigns, it has less clout in winning the party nod than longtime support among the primary electorate and decades of good will built up with party, union and Democratic-affiliated group leaders.

All this is a way of suggesting that we take a deep breath before deciding that because Obama is the king of fundraising Clinton is no longer the big favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Yes, it is impressive that he raised 50 percent more in the past three months than she did, especially given that Clinton has an enhanced version of the money machine that made her husband, Bill, president. But her $21 million haul doesn’t put her in the poorhouse.

Nevertheless, Obama's money numbers are not as impressive as the large lead Clinton holds among Democratic primary voters, who seem to view her in awe, much like the way Nancy Reagan regarded Ronnie when she put on that adoring gaze.

The idea that Obama is now on equal footing with Clinton because of his fundraising power is a great story. It certainly appeals to a news media that loves the storyline of the first serious woman contender against the first serious black contender for the presidency.

It makes a good story, but it just ain't so.

More at the link - http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0707/4910.html