Hey, Barack: Yes, You Still Can

Clinton was still in contention in June: new memoir

(NEWSER) - The Obama campaign seriously considered Hillary Clinton for vice president, but ultimately the perception that her husband was "too big a complication" combined with bad memories from the primary campaign to sink her chances. Barack Obama “said if his central criterion measured who could be the best VP, she had to be included in that list," writes campaign manager David Plouffe in a new memoir, The Audacity to Win. More»

(AP) - Barack Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, has agreed to a 7-figure deal to write a book about last year's presidential election. The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama's Historic Victory will be published by Viking next fall. Two publishing executives said that bidding for the unique, high-level account reached at least $1.5 million to $2 million. 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»

One major donor says most has already been raised

(NEWSER) - President Obama wants to raise $60 million by the end of June, sources tell the AP —and one major donor says most of that amount has already been raised. Key fundraisers were asked yesterday to help with the push, which will benefit Obama's re-election campaign and the Democratic Party. Obama's advisers ultimately hope to match the $750 million he raised in 2008 or exceed it, with some estimating he could raise $1 billion this time around. More»

He claims the president was not leading talks on spending cuts

(NEWSER) - According to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, President Obama had to be dragged “kicking and screaming to the table to cut spending,” he said on Fox News Sunday. Cantor says White House senior adviser David Plouffe is being dishonest in his claim that Obama was the one leading that discussion, Politico reports. Elsewhere on the Sunday dial:

• The president will make a major budget address Wednesday. He will lay out “his approach to long-term deficit reduction,” David Plouffe said on Meet the Press, adding that the president’s 2012 budget includes a plan to reduce the deficit by $1 trillion over the next decade. Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Schumer said on Face the Nation that details on the spending cuts included in the budget deal will be posted online tomorrow.