Is Obama spending his campaign money too fast?

[WI_DEM]

President Obama's campaign has been spending more than it's taking in this summer in an early attempt to define Mitt Romney as unfit to lead. Obama shelled out more than twice as much as his Republican rival in June, buying more TV ads and paying twice as many employees. Romney and the Republican National Committee had $170 million on hand as of June 30; Obama and the Democrats had $147 million, which has some Democrats worrying about Obama's "burn rate," The Wall Street Journal reports. They say it could leave him short on cash and force him to cut back as November approaches, while Romney, who can't spend a good chunk of the cash he's raised until after the GOP's convention in August, finishes strong with a spending blitz. Is the president burning through his campaign funds too early in the race?

Yes. Obama's recklessness will hurt him later: Obama has been spending at "record speed," says Doug Schoen at Forbes, and he "cannot afford to keep this up." At this rate, he's going to have to waste valuable time fundraising — instead of campaigning — in September and October. Romney has been building his superior war chest and limiting expenditures. After the GOP convention in August, "Romney's campaign will shift into a whole new phase, and Obama will not be able to keep up."
"Cash makes Romney stronger than people realize"

Obama is betting the splurge will pay off: The president is fully aware of the risk he's taking, says Chris Cillizza at The Washington Post. His campaign is just convinced that "every penny is being well spent." Team Obama is spending big on a nationwide ground organization to whip up turnout. Of the $58 million Obama spent in June, $38 million went to a barrage of ads in swing states, where Romney's image has "taken a hit." Of course, we won't know until November whether Obama "made the right bet."

http://theweek.com/article/index/230940/is-obama-spending-his-campaign-money-too-fast

[Scuba]

1. No. Waiting until voters have already made up their minds would be folly.

[greymattermom]

2. I'm ready to give

if needed. I'm sure a lot of small donors will help when the nasty Romney stuff starts.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

3. I give and am able to actually get back.

Many of my family and friends are in swing states, and with every check I get, I buy one a shirt from the Obama store. store.barackobama.com That way, I'm kissing up to my friends and family before Christmas, and I'm supporting the campaign. I win.

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. You know who I trust with these issues?

David Plouffe and David Axelrod. They're about a million times smarter than any sideline pontificators or amateur poll junkies.

[Bluzmann57]

5. What?!

How can Plouffe and Axelrod be smarter than a bunch of people expressing opinions on the internet?! That's blasphemy ,er, true.

[Liberal Veteran]

6. My degree in Armchair Campaign Management is above reproach!

[WI_DEM]

9. the article states they understand it's a risk

so it will either pan out or in Sept and October Romney and his pacs will outspend Obama 3-1 and define him. We'll see how it goes.

[bigdarryl]

10. Obama WILL NOT be outspent 3 to 1 regardless of superpacs

Stop believing media bullshit

[WI_DEM]

11. who are your sources?

He will still be out spent and he should make sure he is reserving time in October or the prime media times will be bought up by Romney and his pacs. They are already doing it. I lived in Wisconsin during the recent recall and know how they saturate the media and it works. We need to be proactive. Too many on DU think everything is fine and the president will be easily re-elected. That is not necessarily the case. An incumbent, even one as likable as Obama, who has an 8% unemployment rate and a 'recovery' which is anemic is going to have a tough time--no matter who they are.

[Drunken Irishman]

14. It really isn't a risk.

I don't care what the article says. Chris Cillizza suggesting the Obama campaign knows the risk, without providing a quote, is not proof.

There is no risk here.

[Pirate Smile]

7. Doug Schoen? A Fox News Democrat who told Obama not to run for reelection? Pssht

[WI_DEM]

8. you missed that the article also quotes Chris Cillizza--it gives two views of the situation.

[Pirate Smile]

12. I'll trust the Obama Campaign on this.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. WI_DEM, I don't think they are spending too much; I think they are spending strategically

which may require more resources than usual. Still, I'm not sure why the big Democratic Party donors aren't giving. I do know that Soros is angry at Obama. (I could go on and on about his hypocrisy but won't.) But, I'm not sure what's going on with the other big donors and why they are withholding. Maybe they have a strategy to spend more in the end.

[AtomicKitten]

15. Opposite Day again! Weeeee! "Reckless" my buttcrack.

"Reckless" is one adjective that isn't even in the neighborhood of O.

[rox63]

16. They are using it to define Romney in the eyes of voters

That's what the GOP did against Kerry in 2004, and it was unfortunately successful. I think it's a good use of campaign funds. If Romney is too damaged by the time of the convention, no amount of money will change that.