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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Clinton camp raises $35 mil in Feb.

Posted: Thursday, February 28, 2008 2:16 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
Later this afternoon, the Clinton campaign will hold a conference call with reporters, during which it will announce having raised $35 million in the month of February, according to news reports. That amount is more than double what it raised in January -- and it comes after surge in online fundraising in the wake of Clinton announcing that she had to loan her campaign $5 million.

The Obama campaign has yet to announce the size of its February haul, but spokesman Bill Burton tells First Read: "We have raised considerably more."

Obama raised $36 million in January.

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Yeah Right HP, women have already been voting for her, it's just Not getting her anywhere.You want to know WHY, it's because there are lot's more voting block's beside women.

I guess she's got back her 5 million investment in a losing campaign.

Texas will put Her & America out of the Clinton misery.

Get on Board the Short Bus, HP, J.Merle, Hillary's driving off the cliff, doncha wanna go with her. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.
In other news, George Soro's is down another $35 million in his checking account.

Les Bien (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 2:47 PM)
-----------

Les, you are a perfect example of the nasty ignorant people who are posting the anti-Hillary venom.  As, she would say, Shame  on you!
GO HILLARY!!!!!!!!!!  HILLARY WILL WIN CAUSE SHE HAS A VAGINA AND THATS ALL US GIRLS KNOW, THE BIG MEAN MEN CAN'T WIN CAUSE THEY ARE VAGINALESS AND MEAN
BIONIC BEAVER (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008
----------------------
Yes and they have little tiny peckers, some so small the one in the head barely works!
How much of it was PAC money?

Oregon Taxpayer (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 3:10 PM)
...........

So what if it was??
The only reason she's bragging about $35 million now, is she's about to get humiliated when Obama releases his numbers.
I am glad to be a part of this.  I donated quite a few times this month. Small donator, young independent voter, for Hillary, yes we do exist!!!  I also can't wait to vote for her in my state's primary (Texas).  
Stacy, you say you're in this for change.  Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it. Change just for the sake of change is dangerous. Sorry you gave more than you could afford. You're going to need all you can get by the time WE have to pay for ALL the PROMISES from Obama. Of course, who knows what's coming if Obama is president. He has flip-flopped on so many things.
Paul, in Woodbridge: What's your source for what the "insiders" are saying?
oknOK (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 3:09 PM)

--------------------------------------
Paul has always heard voices in his head.  He is under treatment, should only take 1 or 2 more years to cure him.  Pray for all the mentally challenged as they will inherit the kingdom of heaven!
LOL on the bionic beaver post above.  that's the funniest one i've seen today.

vagina power!!!
CA in Tuscaloosa: Don't call me. If I can't write in Hilary I'll be helping McCain try to beat Obama.
Wow!  $35 million in February.  That is impressive.  Hillary-supporters are willing to give Hillary more money to mis-manage after 11 straight losses in primaries and caucuses.  I'm sure Mark Penn is extremely happy.  He can take more money in consultant fees and have more donuts and coffee at the meetings.  Today is a day for Hillary and her campaign to celebrate, but wait until Friday Feb 29th or Saturday March 1st when the Obama campaign totals are announced.
""President Bush said Thursday the country is not recession-bound"

That tears it. Now I know we are in deep trouble. "


What do you mean? When has Bush ever said anything that turned out to be a steaming pile of horse apples if not a bald-faced lie?
I still cannot figure out why anyone would vote for Obama when nothing of his past has been directly addressed by him.  I'm SO pleased to see Clinton has gotten the money needed to continue campaigning.  It's really a sad statement for this country and many good, potential candidates that it's based on money.  I'm a Hillary Clinton fan and will continue to be as I see her hand on the bible taking office in Janurary.
Fired up --  Hopefully Hillary will drop out after she loses more elections on March 4th!

Go President Obama!
Money will not matter.  WOMEN FOR HILLARY will vote her into office.  We will put her on the ballot with or with out obscene amounts of money.  Women make less than men and work harder and smarter so we will be inventive and write Hillary on the ballot if necessary. Money and Media be dammed!
HP Boston (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 2:46 PM)

spare me
MK,MO (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 3:06 PM)

---------------------------------
You are spared!  Go to Obama land now that your Edwards has flown the coop.  Many more chickens in the yard MK, go chase a real chick!
Paul, in Woodbridge: What's your source for what the "insiders" are saying?
oknOK (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 3:09 PM)

--------------------------------------
Paul has always heard voices in his head.  He is under treatment, should only take 1 or 2 more years to cure him.  Pray for all the mentally challenged as they will inherit the kingdom of heaven!
Obama collected more so he shold be President?

The upper class media loves Obama so he should be President?

The vast majority of Blacks will vote for Obama, so he should be President?

Obama promises change, so he should be President?

Obama has no foreign policy experience, so he should be President?

Obama CLAIMS he will unite everyone, even without a track record of doing this in the past, so he should be President?

Obama inspires college students and those who want to have hope, so he should be President?

Obama is a man, so he should be President?

Obama won a Grammy, so he should be President?

The list goes on and on.

Obama can't buy this election.

GO HILLARY!!!!!!!!!!  HILLARY WILL WIN CAUSE SHE HAS A VAGINA AND THATS ALL US GIRLS KNOW, THE BIG MEAN MEN CAN'T WIN CAUSE THEY ARE VAGINALESS AND MEAN
BIONIC BEAVER (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008
----------------------
Yes and they have little tiny peckers, some so small the one in the head barely works!
I am a Hillary supporter and must say I am so proud of you. The poise and steadfastness in face of all thrown at you is one of the very reasons we feel you are the right choice.Your dedication to drive forward to solve the problems of so many and touch there lives to make them better is great.I am sure this drive will be rewarded by the many who see  that experience has piled up to make you the person YOU are.We in NY appreciate you kept your word to work for us and gain more experience when going to the US Senate. You didnt dump us in 04. Now Hillary God Bless you on your way to the top.Those side trips to help others along the way  when you could have been useing time campaigning will not go unnoticed either.
ep-ny (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 2:52 PM)


----------------
DITTO!
All democrats are going to get what we deserve...another republican.  Those liberals like Olberman, Matthews, Miller, tucker , Shultz have killed Hillary.  They made this Obama to be the next coming.  what a joke.  Now once again we have a split party.  Get your heads out of the clouds and do what is right for this country Stop being stupid.  Cmon Texas and Ohio we need you!!!
I agree with Bionic Beaver!!! Let's go women you have a chance to make History!!!!  HILLARY 08
Oh my, you Obama supporters are so arrogant. Do you not think that Obama's campaign has not fed it's volunteers? It's a very common practice.  
oknOK (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 3:13 PM)


Is it common practice to not pay your bills as well?  Or be so arrogant to assume that you'd have it locked up after Feb 5th that you wouldn't even have to organize anything after that?   When the national Obama organizer went to Texas, the state organizer handed him a list of 150,000 volunteer names, already organized and ready to be mobilized.  Clinton barely had a precinct captain in half of the districts.

Here in Cincinnati, on their first night of organizing for the Clinton effort here, 60 volunteers attended.  Obama's first night... over 800.
"President Bush said Thursday the country is not recession-bound"

That tears it. Now I know we are in deep trouble.

nuanced




But you're hoping. In a sick perverted way, you're hoping it happens. Right nuanced?
I'd suggest rush out and buy Dunkin Donut stocks.  Good money, bad candidate.  
If Billary's campaign did raise $35 million - just how much of this was slated for the General Election? Most of her donors have given their max amounts.
rc, that list was pretty clever.  i've got my own for your girl, hillary.

hillary has a vagina, so she should be president?

hillary doesn't like disclosing key financial information and clinton administration documentation, so she should be president?

hillary has totally mismanaged her campaign (not just the financial aspect), so she should be president?

hillary's husband really likes donuts and mcdonalds, so she should be president?

femi-nazis will vote for hillary no matter what, so she should be president?

hillary relies on polls to determine her convictions, so she should be president?

instead of looking in the mirror, hillary likes to blame a "vast right wing conspiracy" and the media for her woes, so she should be president?

half the country can't stand hillary, so she should be president?

hillary only has six years of experience as an actual elected official, so she should be president?

hillary acts like a bi-polar nutjob, so she should be president?

the list really goes on and on....
The 35 mil probably includes the 5 mil loan. Also them releasing the amount today, thinking its the last day of the month, but like most of her campaign they messed up, its a leap year, another day to go in the month. Expect obama to announce something close to 60 mil.

Hillary thought she could buy this election, like her senate seat, but the people have spoken and given Obama the ammo to bring her down. Obama 08
I am a Hillary supporter and must say I am so proud of you. The poise and steadfastness in face of all thrown at you is one of the very reasons we feel you are the right choice.Your dedication to drive forward to solve the problems of so many and touch there lives to make them better is great.I am sure this drive will be rewarded by the many who see  that experience has piled up to make you the person YOU are.We in NY appreciate you kept your word to work for us and gain more experience when going to the US Senate. You didnt dump us in 04. Now Hillary God Bless you on your way to the top.Those side trips to help others along the way  when you could have been useing time campaigning will not go unnoticed either.
ep-ny (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 2:52 PM)


----------------
DITTO!

HP Boston (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 3:26 PM)
------------

DOUBLE DITTO!! And, I'm not even from the east.
I suppose such news will help her as it will boost confidence in her supporters.  It is a way to demonstrate that she is still running strong. I do think she is still at a disadvantage.  First, some will argue that this is only done in response to Obama's last month success.  If you're always running behind in strategy and support, surely that doesn't help. Second, Obama will probably raise more than that and will grab the spotlight away from her.  She may be running late here.
This is to Sierra, SF: I sure hope your speaking as a Republican because if your an Obama supporter, then maybe he's not doing such a great job at uniting us as a Party -- IS HE?!!
"Go back to your stupors until we call upon you to suggest a running mate for Obama or to help beat McCain in the fall. "

You can't be serious?  You think we we will help you elect Obama in the fall?  After your condescending, insulting, arrogant comments?  We will help elect McCain in the fall before we would align ourselves with the likes of you!  At least he has some RESPECT for us!
OK... NOW I get how this money thing works!  I make a 5 Million dollar loan to myself, WITH INTEREST, because I've so poorly managed my finances to begin with. Then I cry poverty and beg the American people to GIVE ME MORE money so that I can pay back the loan I made to myself (with interest).  Now I have even more money I can piss away on pizza, sub sandwiches, 5 start hotels, etc..   and hold off on paying my debts to the small business vendors (it's not as if they need the money as much as I do, anyway).  Thank goodness I'm worth an estimated 40 Million dollars so that I could loan myself that 5 Million to begin with... whew.. that was close.    Oh... and don't even ask me HOW I managed to have a net worth of an estimated 40 Million to begin with.... must have been my 35 years of Public Service work.   yeah... that's the ticket.... Public Service work!   Well, you can ask me where I got all that money if you want, but I'm not going to show you my tax returns, or anything else, until AFTER I'm nominated (just in case there's something in there that I don't want you to know about until it's too late).  

And isn't it a darn good thing that someone thought to COPY Obama's Web design and format so that I too could collect donations online?!  Too bad no one thought to do this YEARS ago, when I first starting running for office -- right after my husband decided to make mockery of the Oval Office by having sex with an intern.  No wait... it was JUST oral sex, so that doesn't count.  But if he crys on national TV, gathers up clergymen from every denomination to save his sorry soul, and just admit that sex is sex, then people will forget how he abused his power while in office, and all will be right with the Bush/Clinton Dynasty again.

gawd.......

Come on Hillary, don't show us the money!  Show us the tax returns as you promised in the debate.  Release your records as you promised in the debate.  You are now backtracking on both of these because you are of the same ilk as you amoral husband.  You two candidates from New York really know how to lose a race, don't you?
I read these comments on this board and I wonder what are ppl thinking? It is obvious that if you chose to have a strong leader then you need to be a strong leader....Barak has proven that.....In order to be an efficeint leader you need to be willing to talk with those you don't like to try to compromise.....Barak has done that....


What I don't underestand is why all the hatred for Barak when he has clearly shown forgiveness, respect, kindenes, consideration, Why is all of that bad....and if you truly look at things....it is the idiots who are putting their own foot in their mouth....i.e. John McCain....so when this election gears up and John McCain receives all the negative press what will you Billary fans say then? Can't blame it on being a women!!!! The Execuses for the Clintons is really wearing thin!!!!
Classic Hillary Clinton quote during her "leadership" of the Bill Clinton health care initiative, to an industry expert who was trying to advise her: "You better get in line or you will regret you ever met me!"

Yeah, that's the kind of person I want to be a president.  A fighter who only knows to fight everyone.

Hey, did she and Bill Clinton ever return all those White House pictures and other furnishings they wrongly thought they could keep?  Amazing to me that people can overlook such blatant scandal and be duped by someone who can talk smart but, display no wisdom, and reflect no character but naked ambition.

The real deceived are those who have bought the line that this lady with only 7 years of congressional experience, actually has 35 years of relevant experience.  To borrow a phrase: The biggest fairy tale I've ever seen.
Go Hillary.. Barack Osama wont get my vote.
Where is the $11,000 plus pizza money? I know Hillary will now spend recklessly and happily on Dunkin Dounuts to bribe her supporters. Bribe Strickland so he will try all he can to give her victory. Bribe Bush so he will end the war and focus on al qaida....
Seriously, I am happy for her. But I wonder why she mismanaged her campaign money in the first place? Is arrogance her sweetheart? When you compare Obama's advisers' pay with that of Hillary's Mark Penn, you'll probably be shocked. Wasteful spending is what her Iraq vote created -- billions of wasted reconstruction money.
Sen. Clinton's supporters paid her a wonderful tribute by donating to her campaign when she was in such a dire situation.  I hope she used the money to pay off her debts and prepare to end her campaign with style and class.
YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-)

If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary's than they had ever been before or since.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of  President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

Best regards

jacksmith...
But Hillary raised most of her $35 million from coastal elites at cushy fundraisers, so it's not even worth mentioning, really.
oknOK: "Paul, in Woodbridge: What's your source for what the 'insiders' are saying?"

First Read, among others. It was a small blog entry somewhere around the middle of February.

Of course I realize the Clinton supporters now will "know" its not true, if First Read reported it, lol.
From Dick Morri:Political Insider  
Thursday, February 28, 2008 9:25 AM
Hillary Repeats Same Mistakes

By: Dick Morris & Eileen McGann  Article Font Size  


Whether one likes, dislikes, loves, hates, admires, fears, despises, or envies them, all Clinton watchers have this in common: They are dumbfounded both by the incompetence with which Hillary has run for president and her intransigence at sticking to a failed message.


In a demonstration of inability and inflexibility reminiscent of her healthcare debacle of 1993-94, Clinton seems destined to fulfill Voltaire’s description of the Bourbon kings of France: “They learn nothing. They forget nothing.”


Even now, with her back against the wall, fighting for her political career, Hillary, presumably with Bill’s acquiescence, insists on making the same mistakes that landed her in the soup. No new tactics, no new strategy, no new message emerges.


Incredibly, both Clintons are harping, once more, on the theme of experience to carry the day. No matter that it hasn’t worked since before Iowa; they repeat the same mantra endlessly — that Hillary can “hit the ground running” on “Day One.” It seems they will never realize that voters grasp two essential facts:



One, Hillary’s experience is derivative of Bill’s and her claims to his achievements are largely invented and spurious; and



Two, the real edge she has in experience is her ability to repeat the strategies, tactics, message, fundraising models and campaign style of the 1990s, something modern voters reject emphatically.


Why, after losing 24 states, do Hillary and Bill fail to get these messages? Are they saving up these insights for their memoirs? And why do the Clintons persist in running a negative campaign even when they can’t find anything to be negative about?


Alienating voters with their abrasive attacks without attracting them with their content, they throw pitty-pat punches accusing Obama one day of plagiarism for borrowing speech lines from his close and consenting friend and the next day for accurately describing Hillary’s healthcare plan as requiring sanctions to make those who do not wish to sign up do so against their will (albeit for policies Mrs. Clinton deems to be “affordable”).


If you are going to pay the price of going negative, throw real punches.


Hit Obama with big negatives. You take the backlash for going negative in order to pass the lethal message on to the voters. But if you don’t have any negatives to throw and your detectives have, indeed, come up empty, then stop trying to go negative. Stop alienating people for no purpose.


But as obvious as these observations are, they seem to be lost on Bill and Hillary and the geniuses who are running her campaign. Despite defeat after defeat, we still hear about experience and still get a daily dose of so-what attacks on Obama.


The deeper reality of this campaign is that Obama has shown, by his incredible skill in the way he is waging it, an ability to handle himself and a talent for the demands of center stage that show, experienced or not, he is better able to be president than the inept Hillary.


We are watching a grim re-enactment of all of the character traits that led Hillary to decompose in the healthcare debate of her husband’s first term.


The blind reliance on a guru-delivered strategy, the religious insistence on following the same rhetorical line even when it obviously isn’t working, the inflexibility in adapting to one’s opposition, and the inability to formulate new strategies or to improvise tactics when her pre-conceptions are found to be so obviously faulty — this is Hillary at her worst.


As citizens, we are entitled to watch Obama’s skill, leadership style, and savvy sophistication and contrast it with Hillary’s doctrinaire insistence on approaches that aren’t working and to conclude that Hillary would be a disaster as president and that Obama would be pretty good.


We can, at least, conclude that the same tenacity that led Johnson into Vietnam and may be inducing Bush to risk his party, his reputation and the attitudes of a generation in Iraq may be abundantly present in Hillary.


But we are driven to wonder: Does Hillary’s rigidity stem from a false conviction or from an absence of sufficient imagination and creativity to formulate an alternative course?



The tide is turning!!  35 million and still counting!

Hillary is showing what a fighter she is. Women of America Unite! WE will make history!

Men have held this job long enough. It's now OUR TIME and we will make the difference!
Just curious: Did the Clinton campaign accrue any debt in January?

P.S. That is ALOT of money! :)
Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 2:52 PM)

Yes....
They didn`t pay the cleaning crew in Iowa for their services as of the first super Tuesday Feb 5th.

I gues they have by now because I haven`t heard anymore on this.

Clinton = Cheapskates.
Who counted this.....  Arther Anderson?
TO all the Hillary bashers on here,   How much of Obama's contributions came for Farrakhan and his racist, white and Jewish hating supporters?? Leader of Nation of Islam is supporting Obama, Rezco slum lord supporting Obama. Very young, stupid, easily led people are supporting Obama.
Mature people want a TRUE proven Leader.

Gooooooooooo Hillary

You all better save your money, He's going down!

You go girl – this is a phenomenal amount by ANY standards and is just further proof of the level of support she enjoys.

And you can bet that none of the 35 million came from Minister Farrakhan or his anti-Semitic minions!

No matter how much he raises, Obama may go broke once he pays his debts:

$ to MSNBC for swooning at his every move
$ to speech therapist for the stuttering problem he suffers when debating Hillary
$ to Deval Patrick for speech writing
$ for bail money for Rezko
$ for Ted Kennedy’s bar bill
$ for Michelle’s anger management classes

And think of all the $ he wasted trying to beat Hillary in CA – even had to rent that double wide trailer to cart Oprah’s hind quarters around!

I suppose this is ultimately part of a Dunkin' Donuts based economic stimulus plan.  We know where the 35 mill's going... well, after she pays herself back the 5 million.  And then settles all those debts she has pending in small claims court.  But THEN!  Donuts for everyone!  
TO ISC concerning PAC Money response.

If the majority of it is PAC money, then you know who she is working for.  I give you odds they will be working for her if she makes it to the White House.
Also, I'm sure all of that money was wasted on donuts, coffee, and other wasteful things.
************
Patrick, let me ask you....when you have hundreds of people volunteering their time to phone bank, canvas, stand on street corners, and donate their time in many ways to get the candidate that they are committed to get elected, what is wrong with said candidate's campaign providing coffee and donuts in the morning, or horror of horrors, pizza for lunch? If a volunteer is giving 4,6,8,10 or more hours of their time on a given day, isn't $10 for food a worthwhile investment?


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