Obama reports $32.5 million in second quarter

!GOBAMA'08!

I was an Obama supporter from the outset but recently he has fallen to second place in my support, and I have turned instead to Ron Paul.

I became very offended by the Obama campaign machine and its operation. To call their $31 million haul the result of grassroots efforts is misleading. The campaign headquarters have orchestrated this from the beginning. While the "Walk for Change" may have had all the trappings of grassroots on the surface, the date was chosen by the campaign, the handouts were produced by the campaign etc.

They also called this "our campaign" but when we go to his blog and post anything that might be in disagreement with the other supporters there, accusations of being a Hillary mole disguised as an Obama supporter would be hurled around.

Dr. Paul's campaign is truly grassroots. His supporters aren't asked to give money just so that the campaign can declare that they have the biggest war chest. He made a small request of a specific amount-$58,000 for the rent of a larger campaign office. His supporters produce their own printed campaign material, organize their own events, without direction from campaign headquarters. Go to ronpaulforums.com and you will find respectful discussion and debate between people from all walks of life who are truly bringing this country together on their own-lesbians, fundamentalist Christians, and Spanish-speaking immigrants.

Obama talks the talk, but Ron Paul walks the walk.

Is it true, as Evans-Novak reported this week, that Obama's representative is raising campaign funds in Communist China? If so, why is it not being reported? And if so, what is the quid pro quo? And didn't the Clintons receive campaign funds from the Communist Chinese in 1996, after which the Chinese were able to buy satellite technology from the U.S.?

What a way to elect a president. What ever happened to campaign finance reform? So, the candidate with the most money can buy the most commercial air time is that it? I am not for or against Obama - I think the whole way we elect our leaders is pathetic.

Uh-Oh. Sheriff Obama comes to town!

As a Republican if I have to listen to a Democrat for 4 years I'd rather listen to Barack than the whining, nasal sounding, shrill voice of Clinton. My guess is he was fast tracked because their are plenty of Democrats that feel the same way. Hillary seems to think she's been annointed via the pain and suffering she chose to endure with Bill, the country seems to feel differently about that based on G.W., so if it has to be a Democrat let it be Obama.

This is great news and very heartening. It is sure to give the Bill and Hillary Clinton campaign fits. These presumptive nominees of the Democratic party are going to find that most Americans do not want to return to the past with another Bill and Hillary White House.

Obama's fund-raising prowess is a sad reminder of how dysfunctional our republic's electoral process has become. We live in Orange County California and it seems not a week goes by when we are invited to a power "meet and greet", to smile with the candidates and "prime their pump" with few hundred dollars. The increasing cost of access to our current/prospective elected officials is shutting out many whose opinions and views are screened out due to their inability to afford the entrance fees to these candidate salons. Despite each candidate's largess one must question whether gathering 100s of millions of dollars during an election cycle is serving the puposes of advancing our society and improving our chances of selecting a leader capable of addressing the formidable socio-economic issues our nation will face in the coming decades.

i admire this guy so much

Outstanding!

I like Obama, although I do not share many of his views, but the big reason I support him is because he is NOT Hillary! I will vote Republican before I vote for her (we have had ENOUGH retreads named Clinton or Bush and need some new ideas at the top).

I wish Obama showed more gut to fight Islamic terrorism (number one issue in my mind), and not just cater to the passive liberal mindset. He needs to show strength, and that is one area Hillary seems to be scoring points (at his expense).

Still, Obama seems to have new ideas and if he can project a more mainstream appeal, he could be "the man".

We need responsive politicians. Vote for Obama.

Scott Tenney,

Guys who bring Marquis of Queensbury Rules to knife fights lose.

This is great news. It's shameful the way we run our election process, but until the system changes it's good to see someone like Obama on top. We desperately need a leader with intelligence and perspective.

The posts on this article are most interesting. As someone who did "Walk for Change" I can tell you that this was indeed a grasstroots effort aided thru the Obama website with materials and support. If other candidates do not have the resources for orchestrating a national canvass to knock on hundreds of thousands of doors, then I would say more power to Obama! That Barack is receiving so much support is Not a sign he has been designated in some way by Democratic Power brokers...it is truly that he inspires people and this is why he will be elected. As for Ron Paul...he is a breath of fresh air on the Republican side many issues, but he would dissolve the Department of Ed and most other government agencies as he is a Libertarian.

I am not from the USA,but it is this kind of grassroot politics that inspires us(we from the developing countries)to emulate and follow your(USA)democratic examples.we just hope that your decision as democrates to nominate a candidate for 2008 presidential will be guided by reason and truth,and not by class or group influence.We from outside USA hope to learn from you.

I have been a long time admirer of Mr, Obama. Idealistically, I would say that is a shame that the guy wuth most money is doing to win. But, I don't feel that way about this candidate. I am a black woman that support both Obama on some issues and Clinton on some issues. Mr. Obama is running against stereotypes that black men deal with everyday. I watched him in Chicago and now I live Lakewood, Washington and I am still proud of him.

The free market at work. Gotta love it! If this guy doesn't appeal to republicans, they don't understand what capitalism is. I guess they have to vote for guys that think evolution isn't a fact.

LOL....LET'S BE REAL THIS RACIST USA WILL NEVER ELECT OBAMA NO MATTER HOW MUCH $$$ MONEY IS RAISED.

First political contriutions from non-citizens are not allowed and a strict violation so I doubt he is getting money from China. To be honest, the best candidate is Dennis Kasinch. But we know that will not happen. I am voting for Obama or Edwards because they could win. Too bad they will not unite against HIllary.

...as Evans-Novak reported this week...
- Shaka

Evans-Novak? I thought Evans died in 2001? Is he still passing off his lies from "beyond the grave"?

Barack "Hussein" Obama will go down in history as the man with all the big liberal money,but no ideas,just silly talking point platitudes.
70% of Americans don't even know who he is...they probably think O'Bama is a Chicago Irish Catholic...wait till next year comes and Americans start paying attention to the candidates and they will soon learn that Barack "Hussein" Obama came from a Muslim family and went to school for 2 years at a Madrassa.
Hmmmmm...down in flames!

Paulo

Congraulations to Obama's Campaign. I am an Obama supporter all the way. I agree with the previous writer, I am "sick and Tired" and "Tired of being sick and Tired' of a Clinton-Clinton and Bush-Bush White house. I am a traditional African American voter, I owe nothing to the Clintons. If Clinton wins the primary I will cast my vote for the republican candidate.

Nunu; do we have american leave in China, if we do. then he can raise money from them. You lie, you are not for Paul but Hillary.I understand your frustraction, Hillary has been a candidate for more than 8 years and cannot carry that much people for his campaign. Do not worry, once we decide to lead, we will do just that and nobody will stop us until we get nomination, you name them

What difference does it make if he comes from a Muslim family? It's that kind of ignorance that could put another Republican in the White House.

Initially, I was going to vote for Hillary Clinton but after hearing Obama speak about the war, unemployment and health care. I simply changed my mind and I am now an Obama supporter. (I still admire Hillary.)

Remember when Hillary wanted to take the profits from the oil companies? (Hugo Chavez would be proud)
Well...I demand that part of the 21 million she raised,the 31 million Barack "Hussein" Obama raised,and the 9 million that John "The Con" Edwards raised should be taken from them and put into the welfare system!
Maybe we all could save a few bucks a month on our taxes....Ahhhh,forget it.."The War On Poverty" (SEVEN TRILLION DOLLARS SO FAR) is a never ending war...but,the war on terror,to keep us alive,is too expensive and it's taking too long!
Ahhhh...you lefty libs....
**** Remember!Saturday July 7th,Global Warming Day...It may be hot,it's summertime...proof enough that...it's hot/warm****

Paulo

Way to go Barack! I sent you twenty but will send you the max allowed by law when I start working next week.
As for some of the words on this site, the pundits against Obama keep coming up with the same stupid lies. Obama is not Muslim and the school he went to that they talk about being a Muslim school accepted all religions and was not strictly a Muslim school.
Instead of coming up with lies and hatred, see who this man is. Listen to his ideas and his values.
He is a fresh new voice and energy that this country needs.
Go Barack!

-Alan Herman

I'm one of those 258,000 folks who hear something refreshing in Sen. Obama's political discourse and decided to contribute. I heard him speak in 2002 against the Iraq invasion and at the 2004 convention. He conveys good judgement and strong, well prioritized values. He has fought for civil rights and the little guy not just with his speeches but his 10+ years of legislative experience and his work before becoming state senator. He is the only candidate of either party that does not employ a lobbyist or have a lobbyist advising him(according to New York Times).

Hillary had her chance to fix health care. She and Edwards also had their chance in 2002 to show leadership against invading Iraq. (If either of them were the Dem. nominee, I would vote for a third party because they don't have it in them to bring real change.) If Hillary were to have 2 terms as Prez that would mean 28 years of Bushes and Clintons. We need something different if we are going to get real and workable solutions to health care, iraq, energy independence, and campaign finance reform.

I increased my contribution to Obama's campaign in the 2nd quarter from the first. I will increase the contribution each new quarter in the future. I know that many of the other 257,999 Obama supporters are also dug in for the long haul. A leader like this doesn't come along very often.

GOD BLESS OBAMA.

A black man with an unusal name winning the Senate face? Fat chance. A fairly new senator from Illinois raising more money than Hillary? No way. Still don't believe that Obama can win the presidency? I wouldn't underestimate him if I were you.

Ron Paul is not electable. Why waste your time? A republican against Bush's Iraq war is like a gay man against bj's.

When Obama's trusted aides indicated that he might be consider a ran for the White House, skeptics not only in USA but all over the world were quick to dismiss the idea as myopic and ill adviced. Most of these doubting Thomases sighted his lack of experience and most important, the fact that he is not financially endowed compared to the clintons of this world and moreso, he lacks the interest groups connection compared to Hillary etc.

I have said it on this blog before and I dont mind saying it again.

Obama's candidacy transcend race, social class, political affiliation, religious belief as well as special interest groups. To put it simple and clear, Obama is the true candidate of all American people. He is the one who best articulates their pains, fears, happiness, hopes and aspirations.

Forget about what the so called "National opinion polls" are saying. simply look at the broad support that Obama is receiving. Opinion polls can be doctored but real figures cannot and they are surely telling the story. Obama is the will of the American people and the will of American people must prevail.

After reading the story and comments, I am mailing my personal check to the Obama campaign this morning.

No, Tibwa I am not a Hillary supporter, but it is clear you are an Obama supporter. It is attitudes like yours that soured me on Obama. His supporters were all convinced that people who didn't fall lock stock and barrel with their own perspective of things were Hillary trolls-The unifying message of Obama was lost on them sadly. I was wavering for a while but once I got accused of being one of those Hillary trolls myself I jumped ship. How could I support someone whose other supporters were a bunch of paranoid people who believed I was something I wasn't?

As for Hillary-I can say only this as a woman-any woman who stays with her man after what her husband did to her with Monica is a total doormat with no self-respect. She is not fit to run this country and be a role model to women. She has no integrity. She only stayed with Bill to advance her own career.

I'm voting for Dr. Paul because he has integrity and principles, is for getting out of Iraq and other foreign wars we are involved in even more than Obama, and because he actually inspires the inclusiveness that Obama preaches but his supporters seem to fail to understand themselves.

I don't worry he is polling single digits, but increasing, at the moment. If you look at the stats for past presidential elections-at this point in the cycle the eventual nominee was almost always polling similar numbers. The front runners can fall and those at the back of the pack can move forward. God help us if this campaign is really about raising money only.

Paulo....Boy that popeyes sure gives out a lot a money..Huh?

Everyone just ignore Paulo "Racist" Hernandez.

Obama's broad appeal especially clicks with independents and the centrists of either party. In contrast, there are too many people motivated to vote against Hillary for her support to grow. Sooner or later more party machine Dems will start to realize that with Hillary as a nominee the general election is in jeopardy, but with Obama it is in the bag.

In the news the Swamp won't report, Hillary has widened her lead in the public opinion polls over St. Barack. Real Clear Politics averages the latest polls and finds her leading Obama 37%-23%--a hefty 14% margin. See
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/democratic_presidential_nomination-191.html

for the details.

LOL... America won't elect a black man...

LOL... America just gave $32 million dollars to a black man to run for president.

Keep on underestimating him!!!

It just makes us work that much harder.

And I wish that some idiot would try that Muslim misinformation out loud to the American public (rather than these little side whispers), cause that person will get jumped on so fast with a barrage of FACTS they won't know what hit them!

GO OBAMA!!

Paulo...I notice that you really only respond nowadays to the Obama threads. After reading in the past your fried chicken, Popeyes, kentuckey freid chicken comments, it only reaffirms my belief that your objection to Obama is strickly racist and hope that everyone who has read your hate....realize you bring nothing to the table but your redneck garbage.

[quote]
Barack "Hussein" Obama came from a Muslim family and went to school for 2 years at a Madrassa.

Posted by: Paulo | July 1, 2007 7:49 PM
[/quote]

Paulo:

Either provide PROOF that Obama went ot a Muslim madrassa school, or shut the hell up. Your bigoted mud-slinging posts against Obama are pathetic proof that conservatives like you are cowards without the backbone to debate politics without rolling around in the garbage.

[quote]
Barack "Hussein" Obama came from a Muslim family and went to school for 2 years at a Madrassa.

Posted by: Paulo | July 1, 2007 7:49 PM
[/quote]

Paulo:

Either provide PROOF that Obama went to a Muslim madrassa school, or shut the hell up. I've been challenging you to do so for the past 4 months - why haven't you risen up to meet the cahllenge? Is it possible BECAUSE YOU CAN'T???

And does anyone remember the Democrat who made the big fundraising splash at this time in 2003?

None other than Howard "the Scream" Dean. And we know how well he did in the actual voting.

See
http://www.techpresident.com/node/1663

And when is Hillary going to release her earmarks? Obama was the first to do so.

About Ron Paul... I don't have the same politics as him, I agree with some things. I really don't like classifying myself with a group, because I usually disagree with some things, but I would consider myself a social libertarian, and economically, a social democrat, so definitely left of center, although it seems that now liberals and libertarians, as well as some classic conservatives are sharing sides when it comes to individual rights, war, war on drugs, abuse of power with the Patriot Act, etc.

However, Ron Paul is saying the right things, only because he can, because he knows he can't win, so he can speak his mind a bit more than Obama, who does have to think, "Can this be misconstrued," or "Maybe this topic will hurt my campaign," etc. However, I do like Obama, he does stand apart from other candidates.

Just like Dennis Kucinich, Ralph Nader. They knew they had no chance, so they can speak their mind like Ron Paul. But that will never win an election because of corporate interests, lobbying, and the media. They will portray Paul or Nader like lunatics.

I am not donating to obama because he will take my money in higher taxes to pay for these people's health care. I 'm glad the unskilled uneducated laborers buy this stuff. nothing is free, if you think you are getting free health care, someone else is paying for it and if you already have health care, YOU are paying for someone elses.

"You know what the Democrat slogan ought to be? “We've got what it takes to take what you've got.'"

Republicans are obsessed with money, but at least its their own money. Dems are obsessed with everyone elses money, because its mean not to give to good-for-nothings who dont earn anything. grow up and buy your own health care. if you cant afford it, its free anyways, its in the oath taken by doctors.

Famous last words: Ron Paul is not electable!
I fully support Ron Paul and donated accordingly. Ron Paul has more credibilty when it comes to foreign affairs and has an impeccable record as a 10 term Republican Congressman.
Finally, someone mentioned that Ron Paul can't win because of "corporate interests, lobbying, and the media." Well if that is what it takes to win, then Obama definitely will win because despite his grassroots claim to fame, Obama is bought and paid for by those same special interests!
By contrast, Ron Paul's support is defintely grassroots and while he may not raise much money from the big money PACS, he has my full financial support, not to mention my vote!

After 2 terms of Bush, it is time for a new vision and new leadership.

Hilary had her bite at the healthcare apple and failed miserably. In her most important and least researched vote, Iraq, she came up short and does not have fortitude to admit she was wrong. Her response is that Bush misled her or she retorts, "If I knew then what I know now." That is a silly explanation to a war which has cost billions, if not trillion and the lives of over 3,400 American serviceman.

She said she was briefed on the 90 page document which was used to justify going to war. Wouldn't you read every word before placing our men in harms way. In her hase to not look weak on national defense, she again missed the mark.

I have no idea why Edwards is not connecting. He at least admitted that his vote to go to war was wrong. I respect him immensely for that. I surmise his There are Two America mantra is falling on deaf ears.

So the only real choice is Senator Obama. He was against the war and demonstrated the ability to beat Ms Clinton at the only thing she was touted to be, a fund raising machine.

We need a break from the Bushes and Clintons - their time has come and gone.

I hope we are enlightened enough to look past the color of the candidate.

The racial slurs on this blog are despictable and ignorant. I would be embarrassed if that is all I had to contribute.

Sen Obama should be lauded for his second quarter results, for it proves that he is gaining momentum and building something very special, one vote at a time.

As for his experience, one should revist another IL candidate which few thought was ready. That candidate was Lincoln and as it turned out, we never needed him more.

Have we ever needed a new voice and a new vision more than today?

It is unfortunate that it is seemingly all about the money. However, this time the money is aligned with the only viable candidate, the freshman Senator from IL, Senator Obama.

Tim: Obama's campaign hasn't taken any lobbyist money and has no lobbyists involved in his campaign.

I am quite tired of the lies about Obama, but I think it's just the result of natural suspicion towards something that seems too good to be true. But I hope that people will realize that Obama really is the candidate most of us, at least, have been hoping would run.