Fewer political fundraisers reaching for their wallets

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Tribune

Fewer political fundraisers reaching for their wallets
By MATEA GOLD, MELANIE MASON AND KIM GEIGER | Tribune Washington Bureau • Published July 31, 2011

WASHINGTON – The vast majority of big-money bundlers who power political fundraising are sitting out the 2012 presidential contest so far, a reflection of persistent dissatisfaction with the Republican field and a lack of urgency and engagement felt by past supporters of President Barack Obama.

An analysis by the Los Angeles Times of campaign finance reports found that only about 100 of the 560 fundraisers who collected money for Obama from friends and colleagues during the 2008 campaign have raised funds for the president's re-election effort.

Many contacted by the Times said they still planned to get involved, noting it was still early - particularly because the president does not have a Democratic primary challenger. But several also said that the economic malaise, the absence of a clear Republican opponent and some disenchantment with the administration's policies have made fundraising more difficult than during Obama's passion-filled 2008 bid.

"There will be a mix of people who initially are more reticent because they feel a little bit disappointed, but over time they will come back to support the president like they did in 2007 and 2008," said Thomas Lesser, an attorney from Northampton, Mass., who is organizing a fundraiser for Obama on Martha's Vineyard in mid-August.

Read more: http://www.theolympian.com/2011/07/31/1744026/fewer-political-fundraisers-reaching.html

[No Elephants]

1. Comparing 2008 with 2011 is comparing apples and oranges.

By 2008, we knew who the nominees of the Republican Party and of the Democratic Party were and we were smack in a general election year, following a very hotly contested Democratic primary None of that is so now.

We can probably assume safely right now that Obama will be the nominee of the Democratic Party, but it is still only an assumption. However, no Democratic contender has appeared on the horizon, so no battle yet, so no one is fired up yet.

And we don't know who the nominee of the Republican Party will be, except that it looks like a field of losers.

Honestly don't know the point of even trying to draw parallels between 2008 and 2011.

[digitaln3rd]

2. Who needs the "little people"?

They all have corporations to feed off of now, since Citizen's United.

[No Elephants]

3. Before Citizen's United, too.

[gordianot]

4. The first time in more than 40 years I intend not to donate to a Democratic Presidential candidate.