I watched and listened to the health care forum earlier today. I recorded the show and created 7 podcast- one for each of the candidates. I had planned to be like cspan and not comment but I am opinionated. LOL
This is going to be an expensive campaign season, but if you are doing a fundraiser, then campaign for some votes too.
Hillary Clinton rolled into town not to get your support but to cash in. According to KEYE, Clinton had a large donor fundraiser at Roy Spence's house last night. Spence is the founder of public relations company GSD&M.
The fundraiser invitation officially suggests a donation of $500 -- but in the big-money, high-stakes world of '08 presidential politics, it can be assumed that many donors were digging significantly deeper into their pockets. Since donations can be made for both the primary and the general election and the limit is $2,300 per person for each -- a couple attending could conceivably donate up to $9,200 to a candidate for president.
Yes, Obama had a fundraiser, Edwards had a fundraiser, Kucinich had a fundraiser, and Richardson is in town and will have a fundraiser this week. The difference is, they all had either public rallies or small donor events too. They had an event for students, seniors, and average voters to hear their positions.
This is going to be an expensive primary and an even more expensive general election. But why take Texas for granted? Texas may or may not be one of the many states to have a February 5 primary, and there is little to no cost to have a public event.
There is no rational to jet in, take huge sums of cash, and then leave with out talking to voters.
2008 can be summed up as a wide open field. The Democrats have a deep bench of candidates running this year. Why only talk to donors and not voters?
Notable Austinites on hand for the fundraiser included Mayor Will Wynn and former Mayor Bruce Todd as well as former Land Commissioner Garry Mauro. Waco philanthropist Bernard Rappoport also attended.
This is a lesson to every candidate. Ask a donor for money and they will write a check. Ask a volunteer for their support and they will give you their time, passion, and they will donate too. The Dean experiment proved this. While Dean raised millions from supporters, Kerry had to loan himself money to stay in it.
Our readers poll makes it clear that Democrats in Texas are split. Tell us about you. Tell us why you are the candidate for us. Don't treat us like an ATM, treat us like voters.
This past week I had the opportunity to meet two Democratic presidential candidates: John Edwards Wednesday and Dennis Kucinich Saturday.
Yes, I said meet. I shook hands with each of them. If you were in San Antonio, you could have too. The settings for each were intimate, and the candidates were accessible.
Another Presidential Candidate is in Town this weekend. Central Texans for Kucinich will be hosting liberal Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich this weekend.
Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich in Austin, Texas Saturday, March 10, 2007 7:30pm-10:00pm Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto
You are invited to meet Congressman Dennis Kucinich as he runs for the Presidency
The reception will include Jazz Pianist Gary Bass and guest performance by Guy Forsyth
Please join us for great food, drink, and political discussion.
RSVP: (512) 461-2852
(Vote in our poll on the right-hand side of the page. - promoted by Burnt Orange Report)
Now that Obama has officially entered the Presidential potato sack race, I think it is fitting we do a quick straw poll among BOR readers as to who they would support in the Democratic Primary at this point and time. While Edwards continues to run a slight lead in DailyKos polling, what do BOR readers think?
In the interest of my own biased science, Zogby style, I am not going to include candidates that have not announced their intentions. But I will choose "other" as an option in case you don't like anyone at the moment or you think Bill Clinton will find a way to run for office again.
It appears Chris Dodd (D-Connecticut) was watching the Bush TV event, and thought, "how hard could it be?"
Thursday, Dodd announced he will run for President on Imus in the Morning. Not quite the Daily Show but I guess the Dodd candidacy caters to a different crowd. There had been months and months and months and months of speculation that Dodd would enter the race, and while many yawned at the notion, the Connecticut Senator still decided to join the race.
As CNN points out, Dodd has been in the Senate for 26 years and started his career after the Watergate scandal.
This makes it 4 official Democratic candidates (Dodd, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Tom Vilsack) and two pseudo-withdrawls (Mark Warner, Russ Feingold).
For those of you who miss the national politics, check out the poll below the fold.
