Kerry's Campaign Has Soared From Poorhouse to Penthouse

[CShine]

John Kerry may be only a candidate for president, but he and his entourage travel like kings. A month ago, his campaign began chartering a gleaming 757, packed with first-class seats, fine food, sleeping accommodations - even a stand-up bar. They hardly shy away from fancy hotels, like the Four Seasons in Palm Beach and the St. Regis in Los Angeles. Late last year, Mr. Kerry's campaign was so broke that the senator had to mortgage his own home to keep the presidential effort in motion. Now its finances are soaring, the result of a surge of more than $100 million in contributions after the Super Tuesday primaries in March. That has given Mr. Kerry the distinction of being the best-financed challenger in presidential campaign history. The swelled coffers, spurred by money raised over the Internet, has allowed Mr. Kerry to pour money into the race at a pace that rivals spending by President Bush's campaign. In fact, he spent more than the president in both April and May.

"At our Monday morning meetings, our fund-raising people give their reports and there is a lot of cheering," Mary Beth Cahill, Mr. Kerry's campaign manager, said Friday.

Mr. Kerry's financial success has significant implications for how he mounts his campaign. Aides say they no longer worry so much about having the money to compete against President Bush's vast political fortune, which has grown to a record $213 million. However, the president still held a 2-to-1 advantage in money in the bank last month.

More than anything else, the money has allowed the Kerry campaign to sharply increase its television advertising. The campaign has spent $43 million on commercials since May, aides said. That is less than the $85 million Mr. Bush has spent since March but enough to reduce the Kerry campaign's dependence on advocacy groups that provided television support for the campaign in leaner days.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/27/politics/campaign/27CONTRIBUTE.html?hp

[Massacure]

1. I hope Kerry bashes Bush really hard in July

He's going to need the momentum for August.

[senseandsensibility]

2. I was at a Kerry fundraiser

a couple of days ago(got to meet him, he was warm, funny, relaxed, etc.). in Northern California. He made four million dollars here. But, unlike the five million he made in L.A. the next day, his donors were just regular working people like me. Of course the four million he made from us was totally eclipsed by the five million he made one day later. Why? The press could bash him for consorting with Hollywood celebrities. So now, the story is he travels like a King. Did they ever say that about * in 2000?

[Syrinx]

3. they don't need to emulate Sharpton

I say skimp on the hotels and frills, spend on advertising, please.

[w4rma]

8. Agreed. I hope they aren't getting cocky. This will be a tough fight. (nt)

[sandnsea]

4. Not the Best Western, but..

certainly not the MOST expensive places they could stay. If he were staying at the Best Western, they'd find some way to criticize that anyway.

[Frances]

5. Yes, they would criticize no matter what he did

The CNN trailer says that Kerry raised $5million from swanky donors like Barbra Streisand, Leonardo diCaprio, and Ben Afleck

SWANKY?

Is that a put down or what?

The story could have also said that Bush travels on Air Force One at taxpayer expense. He claims it's official business, but there's almost always a fund raiser involved.

Plus, Bush gets a lot of free air time just because he's president. Bushco spent a fortune of our taxpayer money on the prescription drug benefit for seniors.

[thebigidea]

6. I wonder if the NYTimes ever said Bush & Co "lived like kings"

Curse that liberal media!

[Toots]

7. I'm glad they have a little breathing room but we must keep

giving what we can. This may be the last real chance to start a real turn around in America. If we lose this time I am afraid the America I grew up in and love so much will disappear completely and turn into a horrible grotesque entity I could not tolerate. Please give to any Democrat but especially Kerry. Even if it is just the price of a pack of smokes or a couple of brew-skis.

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. couldn't agree more.........

i made my monthly contribution last nite, and frankly i don't care how he spends it as long he's getting the message out. btw, that graph of yours certainly puts things into their proper perspective.

[cmd]

9. Kerry slept on the plane Thursday night

No fancy hotels. He's in the air much of the time. He commented at the Canton rally that he was looking forward to better sleeping quarters on a different plane next year.

[osaMABUSh]

11. GIVE $ before June 30th deadline !

from johnkerry.com:


"Next Wednesday is our final quarterly fundraising deadline for the 2004 campaign. We've written to you about fundraising deadlines before, but none has been as important as this one.

The supporters on this list have raised more than $49 million for John Kerry since Super Tuesday. Let's make today the "$50 million day" and set the stage for a big end-of-quarter finish next week.

https://contribute.johnkerry.com

There's only one way to keep our campaign's incredible momentum going: we need you to ask thousands of new people to join us by making a contribution. Our deadline is next Wednesday -- the last chance before the convention that the media will have to judge our campaign's strength. Send your friends this email with a note asking them to contribute. Even $25 makes a huge difference."

[doubleplusgood]

12. gave another $50 to Kerry last night

after seeing F9/11