Obama Clashes With Philly Pols Over Payouts

Candidate won't pay 'street money,' riling local Democrats

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 11, 2008 2:44 PM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama has been expected to do well in Philadelphia in this month's Pennsylvania primary, but a test of wills between his campaign and local party bosses might jeopardize his chances. The Philadelphia political scene has a long tradition of "street money"—payment to Democratic operatives who dispense $10, $20, and $50 bills to those who help get out the vote. But Obama's people won't pay up, writes the Los Angeles Times.

It's legal, and one ward leader estimates that it would take $400,000 to $500,000 to get the job done. The city's field workers, many of whom are black, have expressed anger that Obama is putting his campaign's money into television ads rather than grass-roots operations. "You don't come to someone's house and change the rules of someone's house," said one. "That's just respect." Neither campaign has said officially whether it would pay street money.

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., speaks at a volunteer training event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill. talks over the counter at Claudio Speciality Foods during a walk through the Italian market section of Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., shakes hands after speaking at a volunteer training event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., shakes hands inside a store during a walk through the Italian market section of Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., talks with a man right, as a member of U.S. Secret Service pulls him away during a walk through the Italian market section of Philadelphia, Wednesday,... (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Henry Nicholas, president of National Union of Hospital And Health Care Employees, talks with Barack Obama at the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO convention in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Obama Clashes With Philly Pols Over Payouts

Candidate won't pay 'street money,' riling local Democrats

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Obama Clashes With Philly Pols Over Payouts

Candidate won't pay 'street money,' riling local Democrats

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • Pennsylvania • Philadelphia • Democratic Party • Democratic presidential primaries • Pennsylvania primary

MOST POPULAR STORIES

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Hillary Win Leaves Dems Unmoved, Barack Weaker

Pennsylvania primary changed nothing, party operatives agree

Clinton Celebrates Pa. Win

She asks donors to go to her website

'R' Word in Play in Pa.—and It's Not 'Recession'

White voters won't always say it, but they won't vote Obama

Race Looms Large After Obama Loss

Dems start asking whether a black candidate can win

Pa. Primary Changed the Spin, not the Race

Both candidates try to shape narrative after predictable outcome

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