Obama Raises $68 Million In Fourth Quarter

Video update from Campaign Manager Jim Messina: "Not a billion-dollar campaign"...
Obama for America raised $68 million in the fourth quarter of fundraising for President Obama's re-election war chest, Campaign Manager Jim Messina announced on Thursday. The quarter ended on Dec. 31. 2011, and featured the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" sweepstakes as a centerpiece enticement for donors. President Obama lunched last week with the winners of the second "Dinner with Barack" contest, held during the quarter that ended Sept. 30.

Messina characterized the $68 million as "pretty good" as he asked supporters for more, encouraging giving now rather than later. $42 million was donated directly to the Obama 2012 campaign and $24 million to the Democratic National Committee, which is raising money in tandem with OFA.



1.3 million people have donated to campaign so far, with 583,000 donating in the fourth quarter. More than 200,000 gave to the campaign for the first time in the fourth quarter, without having donated in 2008 or previously in 2011, Messina said. 98% of these donated $250 or less.

"Too many Obama supporters genuinely believe that this campaign doesn't really need their donations, or doesn't need them yet, in order to compete and win," Messina said in an e-mail.

"That's wrong. This is not a billion-dollar campaign and it's not going to be."

Final Push For "Dinner with Barack and Michelle"

President Obama, staff send e-mails & tweets as contest & finance quarter end at midnight...
UPDATE, Jan. 6, 2012: Second "Dinner with Barack" contest turns into lunch
The final push for 2011 Campaign donations was on Saturday, with tweets and e-mails from President Obama and OFA staff as the midnight deadline loomed for the fund raising quarter in general and the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest in particular.

On vacation in Hawaii, the President sent a brief e-mail to supporters: "About the deadline tonight: It matters," he wrote. $3 got auto-entry into the dinner contest, the third time the President has raffled himself off as a dinner date. Deputy Campaign Manager Julianna Smoot also sent an e-mail about the dinner for eight.

"If you're interested in potentially sitting across from the President and First Lady for a meal sometime soon, this is your very last chance to throw your name in the hat," Smoot wrote.

The Campaign introduced a way to donate directly off cell phones on Saturday, and National Finance Director Rufus Gifford also sent an e-mail, with the subject headline "I know, I know, I know," since OFA is aware they are in overkill mode.

"Trust me: Nobody here wants to be a bother. But we're counting on everyone..." he wrote.

The First Lady e-mailed supporters on Friday. Former Obama aide Reggie Love is the latest from the President's inner circle to promote the dinner.

The President dined with the four winners of the first dinner contest in October at The Liberty Tavern, but has yet to dine with the four winners of the second contest. OFA recently released a new video of the Eater in Chief talking about the first dinner, which followed five previously released videos. Entries don't require a donation, and the assigned retail value of the dinner, $1,600, which includes airfare and a one-night hotel stay, is taxable to the winners.

The President's e-mail had the subject line "Hey."

The text:

XXXX --

About the deadline tonight: It matters.

If you can, please give $3 or more today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Midnight

To 2012,

Barack
###

Smoot's e-mail had the subject line "Enter by midnight tonight."

The text:

XXXX --

Today, the last day before 2012, we want to make sure you take the chance to be part of something special.

Before midnight tonight, donate $3 or whatever you can to be automatically entered to have dinner with the President and First Lady sometime soon.

And, don't forget -- if you're one of the winners, you'll get to bring a guest along with you.

So, if you're interested in potentially sitting across from the President and First Lady for a meal sometime soon, this is your very last chance to throw your name in the hat.

Donate $3 to be automatically entered to have dinner with Barack and Michelle:

https://donate.barackobama.com/By-Midnight

Good luck, and happy new year.

-Julianna

Julianna Smoot
Deputy Campaign Manager
Obama for America
###

First Lady E-Mails About "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" Contest

No pomp and circumstance, no b*llsh*t at the intimate dinner with the First Eaters...
The end is near: Obama for America's "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" fund raising contest ends tomorrow at midnight. President Obama e-mailed donors on Wednesday, and First Lady Obama e-mailed donors today, asking for $3 while promising "warm conversation" at the "intimate" dinner for eight, with "no pomp and circumstance." The First Couple "cherishes" the same things as every American family, Mrs. Obama said.

Including dinners that raise funds for a massive re-election war chest, which Campaign Manager Jim Messina is insisting will not be $1 billion. That figure is "bullshit," Messina said in an OFA video released on Thursday, showing electoral college pathways to an Obama win in 2012. The word was partially bleeped, but it's in the video. Messina's colorful political analysis comes at 2:52 in the video.



The subject heading for the First Lady's e-mail was "Hope to Meet You Soon"

The text:

XXXX--

At the end of a long day, Barack and I cherish the same things most American families cherish: togetherness, warm conversation, and the simple pleasure of one another's company.

That's what this upcoming dinner is going to be all about. It's just going to be a couple of us -- me, Barack, supporters like you and your guests -- sitting around a table, sharing stories.

No handshaking lines, no pomp and circumstance.

We'd love for you to be a part of it. Donate $3 or whatever you can to be automatically entered today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Me-and-Barack

We hope to meet you soon,

Michelle
##

"Dinner with Barack and Michelle" is the President's third time raffling himself off as a dinner date. He dined with the four winners of the first dinner contest in October at The Liberty Tavern, but has yet to dine with the four winners of the second contest. OFA recently released a new video of the Eater in Chief talking about the first dinner, which followed five previously released videos.

Entries don't require a donation, and the assigned retail value of "Dinner with Barack and Michelle," $1,600, includes airfare and a one-night hotel stay, and is taxable to the winners.

The First Lady today also sent a second e-mail to supporters, with the subject heading "I want to be able to say."

The text:

Friend --

This holiday has felt a bit like one last long, deep breath before we plunge into 2012.

This time next year, I don't want us to have any regrets. I want to be able to say we rose to the task, and got it done. We've all got some work to do right now.

Over the next 11 months we've got an organization to grow, voters to register, and people to get fired up.

I hope you'll close out this year by donating $3 or more now to help make sure we're ready for the next one:

https://donate.barackobama.com/No-Regrets

Thank you so much, and happy new year,

Michelle

P.S. -- Also, when you donate today, you are automatically entered for a chance to be one of three supporters to have dinner with Barack and me.
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