Does it really hurt Obama to go with the public financing in the general election?

[stahbrett]

First, my assumptions could be incorrect, so please correct them for me!

Here's what I think is true:

1) The general election does not technically start until after Obama would officially receive the nomination, and that isn't until Aug. 25-28, 2008. The election is on Nov. 4, 2008, or 68 days after the convention. So if Obama gets $85 million to spend on those 68 days, then that is $1.25 million per day, which is probably about what he's raising each day now, or close to it.

2) Up until the convention, he can continue to raise and spend as much as he can.

3) After the nomination is officially given, people can easily be directed to donate to the DNC, which is free to spend money (with some restrictions, unsure what those are).

4) I don't know how McCain/Feingold affects what can be spent in the 60 days before the election.

[9119495]

1. yes it hurts him to use public funds...I would not have said this in

the pre-swiftboat era.

[stahbrett]

2. So $85 million for 68 days of general election campaigning is not enough?

What about the ability of the DNC to act as a surrogate for people who want to contribute to Obama's campaign?

Also, my understanding is that Obama did not agree to accept public financing in the general election without any conditions. Instead he agreed only to pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee that covered a wide range of election funding issues (527 groups, etc.).

[washingdem]

3. Can he carry over money from the primary season? If so, he'll be loaded.

If not, then yeah, public financing might be the way to go.

[endarkenment]

4. Yes. We do not control the Bullshit Media System, they do.

So they start out with a huge advantage in message control.

[Elidor]

5. Keep in mind, McCain will benefit from Freedom's Watch's $250 million smear campaign

The nominee will need quite a dramatic response to that, including lots of money.

[stahbrett]

6. I did not hear about "Freedom Watch" - could a counter-Freedom Watch be created

And then funded to counter-act any swiftboat attempts, while Obama's campaign does not directly have to fund the response?

[Elidor]

7. I think Move On could fill that role

Though I'm sure they don't currently have the budget for it.

Freedom's Watch is being run by Ari Fleischer, btw.

[slick8790]

8. Absolutely it would hurt him.

Obama has raised $60 million just this month, approximately. With only roughly half of Democrats contributing to him. Once he's the nominee, he'll most likely double that, or close to it. The way he can raise money, he'd be foolish to accept public funds and handicap himself like that.