I just got an email from the Obama/Biden campaign's CFO that says the RNC and pukes

[Parker CA]

have more money on-hand than Obama/Biden do. Is this possible?? I thought we had much, much more money than they do. They are asking for donations, so I am going to donate some more, but I'm confused.

Did anyone else get this email? Is this really the case, or are they stock-piling?

"I'm the Chief Financial Officer for Barack Obama's campaign. I track the donations coming in and the expenses going out.

I asked for the opportunity to write to you directly so that I could try to explain what's happening right now.

This organization has thousands of employees and spends millions of dollars a day -- and at the moment we're doing it without a safety net.

Our spending plans have been stretched by John McCain's negative attacks and the overwhelming resources of the Republican National Committee.

As of October 15th, John McCain and the RNC together had nearly $20 million more in cash than the combined total of Obama for America and the DNC. And just this week, we're facing new and unexpected spending against us in Montana and West Virginia.

Your incredible generosity has gotten us this far. But right now we need your help more than ever to get this campaign across the finish line.

Please donate $250 or whatever you can afford right now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/RNCadvantage

My team and I are working to stretch every dollar in order to keep as many paths to victory open as possible. But we need whatever help you can provide for this crucial final stretch.

Thank you,

MM

Marianne Markowitz
Chief Financial Officer
Obama for America"

[Nia Zuri]

1. I call BS

[justiceischeap]

2. Cash on hand is the key statement

What else could they have their money tied up in?

[uppityperson]

5. You mean they are spending money donated for the campaign on the campaign, rather than just stashing

it away somewhere.

[trueblue2007]

10. Donate $250? I don't have a job. I gave 5 bucks 2 days ago.

[high density]

14. I think they send out different letters based on what you have donated in the past

I once gave $100 and today I got an email from Biden asking me to donate $100 again.

(Edit: I just got the email from the CFO as well, and it also says $100)

[GardeningGal]

3. I think they probably do need more money to keep up the pressure.

I had a phone call last night asking to contribute. However, I've maxed out for the general election so I couldn't. I hope that others here that can afford to contribute will do so. This is too important of an election to let any opportunity slip.

[Muttocracy]

4. It's the RNC vs. DNC factor - McCain is behind Obama, but RNC ahead of DNC? nt

[FVZA_Colonel]

28. Hasn't it been known for many weeks that the RNC still has an advantage over the DNC?

Not $250 million, but still an advantage.

[man4allcats]

I'd be careful about making a donation before

checking this out. There are a lot of phishing scams out there. This sure smells "phishy" to me.

[drm604]

9. If you're worried about phishing

then just type in Obama's website directly and donate that way. You should never click on links in emails anyway.

[Staph]

11. Or donate through DU!

;-)

[NYDem Observer]

6. Yeah i just got that same email

I'm really confused. I thought we were outspending by a wide margin. Christ we had enough money to run an Obama 30 minute infomercial. i love Obama and i pray he wins but I've already given all I can. Sorry.

BTW he also talked about facing unexpected spending in Montana and West Virginia. I'm sorry but we could do without those states, the focus should be in the battleground states.

[drm604]

7. Obama's website does seem to be saying that.

From here: https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/RNCadvantage1?source=20081030_MM_Standard

Make a Donation Now
As of October 15th, John McCain and the RNC had $20 million more in cash than this campaign and the DNC.

We need to close that gap.

We can't underestimate our opponents' strength and what they're willing to do in the last few days of this election -- too much is at stake.

Make a donation now to close the gap before it's too late.

I'm guessing that the Obama campaign has been spending like crazy (like the recent major prime time buys) and has in fact fallen a little behind McCain. I'm not sure how much it matters at this point but more donations can't hurt!

[Kittycat]

8. Oct 15 numbers showed Obama with around 60-some Million in the bank.

McCain 27M, but that didn't include the RNC. So it wouldn't be surprising if the RNC had more money about now. Someone elese posted that in battleground states McCain was matching.

[Tesibria]

12. "cash on hand" is the key word

actually, i don't like the e-mail, but ... i expect that that is the issue. I expect that by Oct 15, they had allocated/spent most of the $ on ad buys thru the end of the month. So that $ wouldn't be "cash on hand."

[WePurrsevere]

13. Mine was similar but from Biden & I've NEVER gotten a request for $250...

Normally it's "$5. or whatever you can afford".

[Parker CA]

15. Glad to know I'm not the only one who got this, but I was surprised nonetheless.

I'm wondering if the donation request is based on previous amounts, but be it true or not, it was a bit presumptuous asking for $250 as if it was burning a hole in one's pocket.

Glad to know at least the same info is on their website and that this probably isn't some scam.

[CakeGrrl]

16. They ask based on the previous amount you donated. I just got this e-mail too

and they're also very good at tracking your cumulative donations. They know how far away you are from your max and ask if you can go "all-in".

[Parker CA]

17. Thanks for that. I was wondering how close I am to the limit, I think the $250 would put me over.

I just sent them an email asking what's going on with the money situation and if things are tied up or truly running out. If I get a response, I will post it here.

[Roland99]

18. It was $25...not $250. I just got the same email.

[NotThisTime]

20. Mine was 100.00, I think people were targetted for different amounts, based on what I don't know

[FVZA_Colonel]

29. Definetly, I gave $25 in the past and got a request for $25.

It probably does have to do with how much has been previously donated.

[Parker CA]

24. Mine was definitely $250. I copied directly from the email I received. n/t.

[Roland99]

27. Wonder if it's based on the amount previously donated?

A sliding scale?

[Clio the Leo]

19. Ha ha! Well, then at least I'm not the only one going...

"I don't get it, but here's some more money."

Just shows how much we trust this dude.

[endelfam]

21. Got the same request for $100...

I've given frequent small donations ever since Iowa but the largest one is $100. I assume that's why that particular figure was used. Went ahead and coughed up some more. The tone of this email was different than the others I've received. I've trusted the campaign this far. I'll trust them again this time. If they say they need money then they need it. No questions asked....

[KewlKat]

22. I got this email too

[KewlKat]

23. I also got one from Joe

[IndependentDem]

25. I got the same one... but only asking for $25.

I will probably make one more donation but I'm going to do it through DU.

[TrogL]

26. Is this a phishing attempt?

[flpoljunkie]

30. Montana and West Virginia? Why not concentrate on Florida, Ohio, and Missouri?