Va. Guv Kaine to Lead DNC

(NEWSER) - President Obama is set to address a Democratic fundraiser later this month—the first such event of his presidency—but the money might not flow from donors cowed by recession and overextended after the recent election, Bloomberg reports. “Nonetheless,” said a White House deputy press secretary, “the president feels a responsibility to help Tim Kaine build a party that will be an effective force for progress,” referring to the new DNC chair. More»

His fundraising is down compared to 2008

(NEWSER) - Whether because of the economy, fighting with Wall Street, or the lack of an exciting primary battle of his own, President Obama's fundraising this election cycle is behind where it was in 2008—$196 million as of the end of the March, down from $235 million in March 2008, reports the New York Times . It blames the falloff on big donors, from major industries to Hollywood stars, failing to keep up with their pace of 2008, meaning the campaign is pushing harder among small, grass-roots supporters. More»

In face of Super PACs, Obama cuts off committees

(NEWSER) - 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. More»

Feline is facing off against Tim Kaine, George Allen for Jim Webb's seat

(NEWSER) - Virginians have a couple of predictable picks in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Jim Webb: Democrat Tim Kaine, a former governor, or Republican George Allen, also a, uh, former governor. But for those yearning in their souls to vote for a non-former governor, meet Hank. The Springfield native is diving into what has so far been something of a catfight, reports the Washington Post . More»

Virginia Republican Party goes ballistic over gory image

(NEWSER) - Conservatives in Virginia checked their email today and found an image of President Obama with a bullet through his head—courtesy of Loudon County's Republican committee. The image portrayed Obama as a zombie, with a bleeding hole in his forehead and part of his skull missing, the Washington Post reports. State party chair Pat Mullins responded by saying that "the disgusting image used today on a mass email has no place in our politics. Ever." More»