On the street in Philadelphia, where the Obama campaign refuses to pay ward organizers what's often called "walking around money.'' Chicago Tribune photo by Zbigniew Bzdak.
by Peter Nicholas
Fourteen months into a campaign that has the feel of a movement, Sen. Barack Obama has collided with the gritty political traditions of Philadelphia, where ward bosses love their candidates, but also expect them to pay up.
The dispute centers on the dispensing of "street money," a long-standing Philadelphia ritual in which candidates deliver cash to the city's Democratic operatives in return for getting out the vote.
Flush with payments from well-funded campaigns, the ward leaders and Democratic Party bosses typically spread out the cash in the days before the election, handing $10, $20 and $50 bills to the foot soldiers and loyalists who make up the party's workforce.
It is all legal -- but Obama's people are telling the local bosses he won't pay.
That sets up a culture clash, pitting a candidate who promises to transform American politics against the realities of a local political system important to his presidential hopes.
See the rest of the story in today's Los Angeles Times:
Obama's posture confounds neighborhood political leaders sympathetic to his cause. They caution that if the senator from Illinois withholds money that gubernatorial, mayoral and presidential candidates have willingly paid out for decades, there could be defections to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. And the Clinton campaign, in contrast, will oblige in forking over the money, these ward leaders predict.
"We've heard directly from the Obama organizer who organizes our ward, and he told us it's an entirely volunteer organization and that I should not expect to see anything from the Obama campaign other than ads on TV and the support that volunteers are giving us," said Greg Paulmier, a ward leader in the northwest part of the city.
Neither the Clinton nor the Obama campaign would say publicly whether it would comply with Philadelphia's street money customs. But an Obama aide said Thursday that it had never been the campaign's practice to make such payments. Rather, the campaign's focus is to recruit new people drawn to Obama's message, the aide said.
The field operation "hasn't been about tapping long-standing political machinery," the aide said.
Carol Ann Campbell, a ward leader and Democratic superdelegate who supports Obama, estimated that the amount of street money Obama would need to lay out for election day is $400,000 to $500,000.
"This is a machine city, and ward leaders have to pay their committee people," Campbell said. "Barack Obama's campaign doesn't pay workers, and I guarantee you if they don't put up some money for those street workers, those leaders will most likely take Clinton money. It won't stop him from winning Philadelphia, but he won't come out with the numbers that he needs" to win the state.
A neutral observer, state Rep. Dwight Evans, whose district is in northwest Philadelphia, said there might be a racial subtext to the dispute. Ward leaders, he said, see Obama airing millions of dollars worth of television ads in the city -- money that benefits largely white station owners, feeding resentment. People wonder why Obama isn't sharing the largesse with the largely African American field workers trying to get him elected, Evans said.
"They view it that the white people are getting all the money for TV," said Evans, an African American and former ward leader. "And they're the ones who are the foot soldiers on the street. They're predominantly African Americans, and they're not the ones who are getting that TV money."
Hardscrabble neighborhoods across the city have come to depend on street money as a welcome payday for knocking on doors, handing out leaflets and speaking to voters as they arrive at polling places.
Peter Wilson, a ward leader from West Philadelphia, said: "Most of the ward leaders, we live in a very poor area, and people look forward to election days. . . . People are astute. They know the Obama campaign has raised millions of dollars."
Street money is an enduring political practice in Philadelphia and cities including Chicago, Baltimore, Newark and Los Angeles.
In Jon Corzine's successful race in 2000 for the U.S. Senate, people from out of state poured into New Jersey to be part of a huge get-out-the-vote operation. Some were paid $75 apiece in street money, as part of the well-funded Corzine campaign's election day efforts.
In the 2004 presidential race, John F. Kerry's campaign paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars in street money to Philadelphia's Democratic apparatus, according to city party veterans.
A famous scene played out at a Democratic committee meeting during the 1980 presidential primary. Vice President Walter F. Mondale came to Philadelphia hoping to boost support for President Carter, then in a tough nomination fight with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
Mondale made his pitch, touting Carter's record on human rights and the economy.
In an interview Thursday, Mondale picked up the story from there:
"I finished my remarks, and the first person who stood up said: 'Where's the money?' And I think he was talking about street money."
Dryly, Mondale added: "That was not the subject of my talk."
Before the 2002 state elections, a reporter watched two practitioners of the street-money arts in action: Campbell and U.S. Rep. Robert A. Brady, a ward leader and chair of Philadelphia's Democratic committee.
Brady was sitting in his campaign office with two of his political lieutenants. He reached into a desk drawer at one point and pulled out a $50 bill -- street money. Brady tore it in two and gave each man a half. Then the men made a bet: Whoever pulled in the most Democratic votes that day from his precincts would get both halves.
The night before that vote, Campbell, sitting at a kitchen table in a retirement community in West Philadelphia, spent hours passing out street money to various Democratic committee people. She kept receipts, working with stacks of cash. Campbell would give $10 to local teenagers assigned to put leaflets in doorways. And she paid out $100 to each of the committee people in her jurisdiction.
Ward leaders say such payments defray expenses such as food and gasoline, and compensate people for a grueling election day.
It is unclear to what extent Obama may suffer at the polls if any part of the city's Democratic apparatus jumps to Clinton.
Obama's strategy in Pennsylvania depends on a strong turnout in the city's black precincts. That way, he can cut into the advantage Clinton has among older and blue-collar voters elsewhere in the state.
Campbell said she could not in good conscience ask people to work for Obama for free.
"I'm not going to do that," said Campbell, who heads a coalition of black ward leaders. "There are a lot of poor people here."
Paulmier said that of his ward's 48 committee people, the vast majority supported Obama. Though he doesn't expect a wholesale exodus to the Clinton campaign if no street money is paid, a handful of those key people might bolt, he said.
"If word gets out that the Clinton campaign is going to make . . . more support available to committee people, maybe five of the 48 might defect," he said.
With a week and a half left before the election, political leaders hope that Obama will relent.
Garry Williams, a ward leader based in north-central Philadelphia, said that he had not heard directly that the Obama campaign was withholding money. But he said payment would be needed. Workers who are in the field for Obama on April 22 will put in days stretching from 12 to 16 hours, he said.
"It's our tradition," Williams said. "You don't come to someone's house and change the rules of someone's house. That's just respect."
• 
• 
• 
Comments
Money for the big corporate media, but no remuneration for the people who actually work for the man. In Philadelphia, they have long valued the efforts of the 'little people' who were donating their precious time for the cause. Obama acts like this is somehow 'dirty'. It's not. It just shows how the ungrateful son of a man of privilege just does not 'get' the lives of the 'little people' even while knowing that 'it's a power thing'--yes it is.
It is beyond time for the junior senator to fold into the clinton camp. Hilary Clinton and her supporters are not the enemy. We just happen to be a lot more experienced, have faced up to defeat without becoming too jaded to get back into the fray, and have great hope that the junior senator and his neophyte political workers will do what's right to champion the issues we all hold dear.
Posted by: geradlinetoo | April 11, 2008 8:20 AM
This Obama who came up in the corrupt Cook County politcal machine is doing this non pay stuff to impress the drivebys.
They can say he is for reform while back in Illinois Obama gives a wink and nod to all the politcal leaders.
Without going on endlessly his relationship with Rezko and the high rises is the image he's running from.
He and his mentors Dickie Durbin and Emil Jones are in it up to their keysters.
Emil has been doing the Blago thing for years casting only votes to help the reformer.
Let's face it living in Illinois we know none of these folk are reformers!
Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | April 11, 2008 8:51 AM
If you don't think Obama's been paying street money in Chicago going back to his days as a state senator then you're kidding yourself.
It's amazing how much backbone and religion this guy finds whenever there's a camera near.
Posted by: Jeff | April 11, 2008 10:18 AM
Jeff- If you don't think McCain is doing favors for the lobbyists on his staff, and has been for years, then you're kidding yourself.
It's funny how much of a reformer McCain becomes whenever there's a camera around, but in the office, it's business as usual.
Posted by: Michael | April 11, 2008 11:01 AM
Posted by: Jerry White | April 11, 2008 8:51 AM
This Obama who came up in the corrupt Cook County politcal machine is doing this non pay stuff to impress the drivebys.
Such as who, Jerry?
They can say he is for reform while back in Illinois Obama gives a wink and nod to all the politcal leaders.
Again, Jerry- WHO? And providing some valid examples would make you sound credible. Otherwise your just another poster blowing smoke.
Without going on endlessly his relationship with Rezko and the high rises is the image he's running from.
He and his mentors Dickie Durbin and Emil Jones are in it up to their keysters.
Emil has been doing the Blago thing for years casting only votes to help the reformer.
Let's face it living in Illinois we know none of these folk are reformers!
Then MOVE out Jerry!
Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jolly Roger | April 11, 2008 11:03 AM
If you don't think Obama's been paying street money in Chicago going back to his days as a state senator then you're kidding yourself.
It's amazing how much backbone and religion this guy finds whenever there's a camera near.
Posted by: Jeff | April 11, 2008 10:18 AM
Gee Jeff I would hate to be kidding myself. Give some credible sources showing when and how much was paid in street money in Chicago by Obama or his campaign.
Or is this just your own vacuous assertion?
Posted by: Jolly Roger | April 11, 2008 11:09 AM
Obama donn't hand out money, he only collects money. Ask Rezko & Frawley of Companion Security.
Posted by: Bessie | April 11, 2008 11:19 AM
Nah Nah Nah Obama HQ--stop with the bloggers trying to intimidate the pamphleteers of the blogosphere. We know Emil Jones is corrupt. We know Obama learned at his feet. We also know (and so do you) that no we don't have photographs of the dollar bills' serial numbers.
But we 'know'' a hypocrite when we see and read about one.
Jolly Roger--your intimidation will not work, here. Give it up.
And Obama should give up trying to SPOIL the fall chances of the Democratic party. The junior senator (the sell out to big coal, big nukes, big war--though he said he's against it he voted it consistently) needs to fold into the hilary campaign now and let us get on with the business of taking back the country saving it the world and the planet from destruction.
peace.
Posted by: golden oldie | April 11, 2008 11:34 AM
Its called INTEGRITY. If Obama is paying them enough, all they have to do is quit. And I know the Columbia-Connected-Cocaine-Clinton-supporters are not talking!!!!! PAH-LEAZE!!!!! Dealing with drug Lords for NAFTA and don't have campaign money - what a JOKE!
Posted by: Keith Lifetime Southsider | April 11, 2008 12:41 PM
Michael, McCain has never asked for nor received one earmark in more than 20 years in congress so you'll be hardpressed to find evidence of any "favor" he did for a lobbyist.
As for Obama we already know he got a $1 million earmark for the hospital that his wife is a VP of and that she got a $200,000 raise after he secured the earmark. We already know who he's doing favors for: himself.
Posted by: Jeff | April 11, 2008 2:35 PM
Nah Nah Nah Obama HQ--stop with the bloggers trying to intimidate the pamphleteers of the blogosphere. We know Emil Jones is corrupt. We know Obama learned at his feet. We also know (and so do you) that no we don't have photographs of the dollar bills' serial numbers.
But we 'know'' a hypocrite when we see and read about one.
Jolly Roger--your intimidation will not work, here. Give it up.
And Obama should give up trying to SPOIL the fall chances of the Democratic party. The junior senator (the sell out to big coal, big nukes, big war--though he said he's against it he voted it consistently) needs to fold into the hilary campaign now and let us get on with the business of taking back the country saving it the world and the planet from destruction.
peace.
Posted by: golden oldie | April 11, 2008 11:34 AM
GO-
1. "Jolly Roger--your intimidation will not work, here. Give it up." Are you saying that requesting FACTS is intimidation? Get used to feeling intimidated then.
2. "We know Emil Jones is corrupt. We know Obama learned at his feet." Really? What was their relationship?
3. "We also know (and so do you) that no we don't have photographs of the dollar bills' serial numbers."
What???
4. "And Obama should give up trying to SPOIL the fall chances of the Democratic party." Well GO the numbers speak:
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows John McCain with a very slight advantage over Barack Obama, 47% to 44%. In a match-up with Hillary Clinton, McCain attracts 48% of the vote while Clinton earns 42%
In the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, Obama now attracts 47% of the vote while Hillary Clinton earns 44%.
Thirty-two percent (32%) of Democrats now say Hillary Clinton should drop out of the race while 26% say the same about Obama.
It's an uphill battle for certain. But you are earning your paycheck from the Clinton campaign.
Posted by: Jolly Roger | April 11, 2008 3:12 PM
Jeff-
Earmarks are rarely favors to lobbyists. They are usually targeted at the legislator's own district or state, which we all agree, McCain has no interest at all in helping.
Nice try confusing two issues in an effort to obscure the truth.
There are many many ways to help a lobbyist or a contibutor outside of Earmarks.
For example a Senator could intervene to get regulators to lay off a contributor who's bank was under investigation. Sound familiar?
Or a Senator could request that the Secretary of Defense not ask for information about subsidies given a bidder by a foriegn nation in a defense bid. Sound familiar?
Or a Senator who has taken in over $700,000 from lobbyists for the telecom industry could write a number of pieces of legislation very much in that industry's favor, like creating a public safety broadband network controlled by private industry (other wise known as his contributors). Or he could work against bills that the industry doesn't like, including "net neutrality". Sound familiar?
But why are you asking about evidence? You've proivided none in your allegation against Obama, so why the double standard?
Posted by: Michael | April 11, 2008 3:29 PM
Jolly---we do not VOTE as a poll--so the poll means next to nada.
How about this--
Let's stop all this CRAP
and do a one day vote.
Winner take all.
we'll see who really wins when we keep out the republicans from OUR vote.
Posted by: golden oldie | April 11, 2008 3:36 PM
Jolly--Julie Mack, Angellight, a guy named Chris--they are OBVIOUSLY working' for HQ--given the leaked origins of some of their more intimidating posts.
But we are the pampleteers on the blogs, no?
And, yes Obama is linked to Emil JOnes and is apparently dirty as the day is long.
He's pretending not to take lobbyist money--but the head of the new hampshire effort was a (state) lobbyist and so they said, (like you do ) Ha! prove it!
And Emil Jones---need I say more?
And saying you're green when you're in with clean coal and not protecting us from nukes.
Ha! prove it? It's already been written about elsewhere, so there's no need to do so.
Everythign I'm saying here is printed elsewhere, pal.
So, keep up with the cheap tricks. Obama's stock is falling through the floor and you know it.
If he wants to maintain any credibilty he needs to fold into the clinton camp.
that spoiler smell is gettin' stronger...
gotta get back to work now. Unlike you, I'm not on any candidate's payroll.
Posted by: golden oldie | April 11, 2008 3:42 PM