"Democrats had no complaints about the campaign finance laws in 2008, when Barack Obama became the first major-party presidential candidate to turn down public financing in favor of exploiting his own fundraising prowess. Obama smashed all records for spending on a presidential campaign, and reportedly outspent John McCain by five to one in the closing weeks of the campaign. If any Democrat was unhappy about that disparity, I don’t recall it.
The Democrats had every reason to expect that their money advantage would be even more pronounced in 2012, with Obama running as the incumbent and with their party in control of the Senate. But things haven’t worked out that way. So far, the Romney campaign has more than matched Obama in the money race, and energized Republicans seem to be equaling if not exceeding the Democrats’ fundraising pace for House and Senate elections. So Democrats, unaccustomed to being on the short end of the money stick, are getting nervous.
Today I got this terse email from Barack Obama:
John –
If you’re with me, then I need you right now.
We’re just days away from the mid-year fundraising deadline — this is the biggest test yet of our commitment to win in 2012. We can’t fall short on this one.
Donate $3 or more right now to elect a Democratic majority in Congress.
