Skip to content

Obama Seeks Donations for DCCC

President Barack Obama sent a last-minute request for donations to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, as it begins its fundraising push for the 2012 cycle.

The close of fundraising for party committees’ first monthly report of the year is Monday, and the president is helping the DCCC get off to a good start as it works to pick up the 25 seats needed to take back the House majority next year.

The request is part of the DCCC’s new Democratic Unity Membership Drive, in which the committee is seeking 50,000 new members. Obama told supporters they could become a member with a donation of $5 or more.

“January 31st marks an important deadline for House Democrats,” Obama wrote in the e-mail solicitation. “It is the first [Federal Election Commission] reporting deadline of the election cycle and the media, pundits, and our opponents are watching Democrats to see if our people-powered movement is standing united to continue to move America forward.”

As of Nov. 22, the DCCC had $3 million in cash on hand and carried more than $19 million in debt. Its year-end filing, which will include its finances through Dec. 31, is also due Monday.

The National Republican Congressional Committee reported having $4.6 million in cash on hand with $12 million in debt through Nov. 22.

“If Democrats fall behind in these final critical days of January, we’ll have to spend months playing catch-up while the opponents of progress start off 2011 with a big head start on their repeal agenda,” Obama wrote in the e-mail.

Year-end filings for incumbents and candidates are also due Monday. For Members up for re-election in 2012, it will be the first signal to their financial strength.

For Members on retirement watch, the numbers will also indicate how much time they put into fundraising for the first report of the 2012 cycle.

Recent Stories

Police arrest man who had torch, flare gun at Capitol entrance

Looking beyond Election Day, Capitol Hill is on edge

Capitol Ink | Founding Fathers poll

From the outside in

In Michigan: Will ‘secret women’s vote’ or ‘Crazy Uncle Earl’ be decisive?

US agency warns of ‘fire hose’ of disinformation about the election