Obama's Donor Recession?

Andrea Chalupa reports from Denver: Barack Obama's been a fundraising machine, raising a whopping $389.4 million since he started campaigning for the presidency--more than double the $174.2 million G.O.P. rival John McCain raised during the primary season.

And as Obama becomes the first modern presidential nominee to buck the practice of accepting public finds for the general election, are his donors tapped out and turning their pocketbooks instead to local races?

Back in July the Democratic nominee turned down the $84.1 million provided by public financing, something he said in his primary race he would not do. In contrast, McCain accepted public funding, and the RNC is confident this is enough for the final sprint. Obama continues to rely on private donors and is banking on their support to keep him as competitive as possible. But Obama now could face competition as elections on all levels heat up around the country.

"I see how much people give Obama already so I'm more inclined to support my local candidate," says Susan Botcher, a Florida delegate. "But I'll still buy a t-shirt and buttons."

Tina Willis Rodriguez, in Denver this week for the convention, says she's signed up to automatically give Obama $10 a month through his successful online fundraising site. As for bigger donations, those are going to her local candidates. "We have pretty good faith that Senator Obama will be our next president. So our local level needs all the help it can get."

"I have fretted over this very thing for the longest time," says Rick Sasser of West Virginia whose wife is here in Denver as a delegate. Sasser says he tends to donate more on the local level but that there's too much at stake this presidential election not to give more--nearly $2,500--to Obama, compared to a thousand dollars or so for local candidates. During the primaries, individuals can give up to $2,300 for a presidential candidate. Since Obama isn't accepting public money for the general election, individuals can give another $2,300 to his campaign.

And it seems the poor economy is coming into play as people have less discretionary funds than in previous elections.

Tawanna Gaines, a member of Maryland's House of Delegates, has given a thousand dollars less this year than in 2004.. She says she's happy about Obama's decision not to take public financing, but has only given him $250 compared to a thousand dollars locally.

"I think [Obama] has enough money. His online and media [fundraising] campaigns were so successful," says Paul Eckstein of Venice, California, here in Denver to work at the Huffington Post Oasis--a full-service spa for delegates and media.

So why does Obama need the financial flexibility? The Democrats' 2004 nominee, offered a very personal rationale after he spoke to the convention Wednesday night. Kerry, clearly still bitter about the Swift Boat campaign against him, said his campaign erred in not spending money to answer attack ads.

"Fundamentally Barack Obama and the party have learned the lessons," Kerry told NBC's Brian Williams. "Barack Obama will be able to compete in every state where he choses too. We had to pull out of states early. ... Barrack Obama will be able to carry his message and he will not waste an instant in making sure we match them dollar for dollar with respect to any effort to take him on, smear him, lie about him, do the things that we've seen already in this campaign."

Andrea Chalupa

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