Obama to Dems: No Cash for You

In face of Super PACs, Obama cuts off committees
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 5, 2012 12:09 PM CST
Obama to Dems: No Cash for You
President Barack Obama speaks to the media in this April 7, 2011 file photo.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

For Democrats who President Obama showered with cash in 2008 and 2010, well, they'd better get ready to raise their own darn money this time around. As in the last two election cycles, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi recently asked the Obama for America campaign and the Democratic National Committee for $30 million for the Democrats' senatorial and congressional campaign committees, Politico reports. But in meetings last week with top Obama aides, Reid and Pelosi were told that this time they were out of luck.

Not only won't Obama give either group cash, he won't hold fundraisers for them, either. The reason? Obama's fundraising hasn't been quite as strong as had been hoped, and the White House fears he'll actually be at a disadvantage this election thanks to GOP-friendly super PACs. "Our priority and focus is … to reelect the president," one Obama aide said, though he added that they are working on building a turnout operation that should benefit Democrats all down the ticket. (More Barack Obama stories.)

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