Team Obama Gets a Shot of Estrogen

from barackobama.com

Sweet Follows the Money

From the Chicago Sun-Times Lynn Sweet:
"The Obama campaign prefers the emphasis be on the army of small donors who are giving -- and raising -- money for Obama. In truth, though, there are two parallel narratives -- and the other is that Obama is also heavily reliant on wealthy and well-connected Democrats.

While Obama took money from federal lobbyists and political action committees for his Senate war chests, he is not for his presidential campaign. That ban does not preclude non-lobbyists who have interests in federal matters or who lobby other government entities.

Those at the top of the Obama fund-raising pyramid -- people who pledge to raise at least $250,000 -- get a gold VIP lapel pin with the letters "NFC" fashioned in the campaign's logo.

The letters stand for Obama's National Finance Committee, and the group met in Washington on Wednesday for a retreat at a hotel with the Obama professional fund-raisers, campaign manager David Plouffe and chief strategist David Axelrod, among others. After raising $25 million in the first quarter -- creating a national network almost from scratch -- their challenge in the second quarter is to show they were not just grabbing the low-hanging fruit."

Low-Key, High Impact Campaigner

From the International Herald Tribune

"COLO, Iowa: Senator Barack Obama is not big on what he calls red-meat applause lines when he campaigns in small communities like this one, just northeast of Des Moines. He does not tell many jokes. He talks in even, measured tones, and at times is so low-key that he lulls his audiences into long, if respectful, silences.

Obama likes to recount the chapters of his unusual life: growing up in Hawaii, living overseas, community organizing in Chicago, working in the Illinois Legislature, though not his years as a U.S. senator.

He talks - often in broad, general strokes - about an Obama White House that would provide health care to all, attack global warming, improve education, fix Social Security and end the war in Iraq.

His campaign events end almost as an afterthought, surprising voters used to the big finishes typically served up by the presidential candidates seeking their support. "Thank you very much, everybody; have a nice day," Obama said pleasantly in Dakota City, Iowa, one afternoon, with a leisurely wave of a hand. He headed over to a table where copies of his books, brought by audience members, had been neatly laid out, awaiting the slash of his left-handed autograph."

Sweet on Michelle

Chicago Sun-Times/Lynn Sweet

Sweet column: Michelle Obama steps up campaign role. Rudy in Chicago.

(screenshot from Huffington Post) WASHINGTON -- Michelle Obama, an extraordinary stump speaker and potentially one of Sen. Barack Obama's most effective surrogates, is poised to step up her role in her husband's presidential campaign.

"I hate following my wife," Obama joked, speaking at a New York fund-raiser Friday night after being introduced by Michelle. When someone in the crowd yelled that Michelle should run, Obama said, "Yeah, she's too smart to run. It is true my wife is smarter, better looking. She's a little meaner than I am."

Hardly that. She is, according to spokesman Bill Burton, the "most important adviser" to the Illinois Democrat.

But with the demands of the campaign growing, Barack Obama simply can't be everywhere. John Edwards -- who hits Chicago this week for a fund-raiser -- has wife Elizabeth circulating on his behalf, and everyone knows that Hillary Rodham Clinton has a powerful helper in former President Bill Clinton.

Michelle Obama switched her University of Chicago job to part time, and the Obama campaign has tapped Melissa Winter, a veteran of two presidential campaigns, to serve as her chief of staff in the campaign's Chicago headquarters."

Obama Gets Oragnized

From BarackObama.com

"On March 31st, I'd like you to host a Community Kickoff event. Whether your local group has already been meeting or this will be the first time supporters will meet in person, this kickoff event is the next step in expanding your reach.

I'll be in a town in Iowa the same day working to build our support there. We'll have a live video stream and a conference call from this Iowa event starting at 3 PM Central time so that you can see first hand how we're building our community of support in this crucial first contest.

We've put together the materials and online tools you'll need to make it happen. Will you start planning a Community Kickoff event right now?"

Campaign Finance Victory for Obama

From The Hill

• Obama Ruling Could Prove Moot, Backfire (The Politico)
• Obama, McCain Say They Would Agree to Public Campaign Financing (Bloomberg)
  

Senator Obama Jumps On Gravy Train

Barack Obama follows the lead of his main rivals and says goodbye to the chump change of public campaign financing and helloooooo to the big bucks of private donations...or does he?

From NewsMax.com

"Following the lead of his chief rivals, Sen. Barack Obama will not accept public campaign financing for either the Democratic presidential primaries or the general election if he's the nominee.

The Illinois senator has decided to forego the public funds, said an official close to the Obama campaign, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The move allows him to raise and spend unlimited private money.

From AP via CNN:

"Democratic Sen. Barack Obama is asking whether he can take money from donors who want him to be president, then give it back later.

The Federal Election Commission said Wednesday that it will look into the novel question.

Obama is indicating that he wants to at least keep the option of using the public financing system for his presidential campaign if he becomes the Democratic nominee. To do so, the Illinois senator could not spend any money from contributors for political purposes, but instead use federal funding that is expected to total about $85 million for next year's general election.

"Senator Obama has long been a proponent of public financing of campaigns, and we are asking the FEC to take a step that could preserve the public financing option for the party's nominees," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said."

Obama, Clinton, Edwards...The Streisand Split

Team Obama Taking Shape

So says the Chicago Tribune. The Trib lists
David Axelrod as the senator's right hand man.

Recently the long time political strategist was advising the new Governor of New York. Axelrod also spent time in John Edwards' camp in 2004. (Meanwhile, it seems his son was busy getting into court side fights with NBA players' wives. But I digress.)

There's also Axelrod's business partner David Plouffe who is listed as likely campaign manager.

Julianna Smoot, fund raiser extraordinaire and another veteran of Edwards '04 will reportedly be finance director.

Pollster Paul Harstad (left) seen below in a picture from his firm's website with Sen. Obama and Senator Ken Salazar...has apparently been tapped to reprise his '04 role.


And of course there's Michelle Obama... America's Next First Lady?