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December 1, 2008 10:57:17 AM CST


Democratic National Committee

Democratic National Committee news stories

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Obama's Grassroots Army Ponders Next Move

Broad movement may dissipate if asked to work toward merely party-oriented goals

(Newser) - Barack Obama’s campaign bred a network of grassroots activists who subscribed to the “Obama brand,” not necessarily the Democratic party. As Obama prepares for office, his advisers are split, the Los Angeles Times reports: Should the powerful grassroots operation remain separate from the party’s, mobilized to create consensus and push through reforms—or should the two be merged? More »

More about:  President Obama presidential campaign Democratic Party Democratic National Committee grassroots

Dean Will Step Down
as DNC Chairman 

Obama ally likely to take Democratic party leadership

(Newser) - Howard Dean will step down as chairman of the Democratic National Committee at the end of his term in January, the Huffington Post reports. Although the success of Dean’s “50-state strategy” fueled speculation that he would stay on, the post is likely to go to an Obama insider like Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, co-chair of the president-elect’s campaign. More »

More about:  Barack Obama President Obama Howard Dean Democratic National Committee DNC Claire McCaskill Democratic Party Chairman


 Victory Would 
 Vindicate Dean 

Win would vindicate screaming DNC chair

(Newser) - If Democrats clean up tonight as expected, it’ll be a vindicating victory for Howard Dean. The DNC’s infamous screamer locked horns with many in his party over his “50-state strategy,” but this election his seemingly quixotic venture has borne fruit, the Hill reports. Barack Obama is within striking distance in places like North Carolina and Indiana, while Democrats could pick up congressional seats in deep-red Mississippi and even Alaska. More »

More about:  Election 2008 Howard Dean Democratic National Committee DNC grassroots

Hillary Bundler Picks McCain Over 'Elitist' Obama

Lynn Forester de Rothschild to endorse McCain-Palin

(Newser) - Democratic fundraiser and ardent Hillary Clinton supporter Lynn Forester de Rothschild will endorse the McCain-Palin ticket today, Muckety reports. De Rothschild, who worked with the Democratic National Committee, has been a steadfast critic of the Dems’ decision to nominate Barack Obama, whom she called an untrustworthy “elitist” in a July interview. Obama supporters countered that de Rothschild herself is a millionaire and wife to a British aristocrat. More »

More about:  John McCain Hillary Clinton Sarah Palin Republican candidate Democratic National Committee fundraiser bundlers elitism party unity

 GOP Has Twice as 
 Much Cash as Dems 

McCain Plus RNC Currently Double the Cash of Obama Plus DNC

(Newser) - Coming into the home stretch, the Republicans have about twice as much campaign money on hand as the Democrats, reports Bloomberg—about $200 million to $95 million. Though Barack Obama has raised record sums, the Democratic National Committee’s current $17.5 million lags far behind the GOP’s $76 million. These committees may continue to raise and spend money to support their candidates, so long as they don’t coordinate strategy. More »

More about:  Barack Obama John McCain campaign finance Democratic National Committee Republican National Committee

ANALYSIS

Obama Building His Own Democratic Party

Candidate focuses on boosting top-to-bottom health through better infrastructure

(Newser) - Barack Obama is running as an “outsider candidate” fed up with partisan politics—yet he is, ironically, perhaps the most party-focused presidential candidate in history, Dana Goldstein and Ezra Klein write in the American Prospect . Obama has moved much of the Democratic National Committee apparatus to Chicago, rebuilt its fundraising infrastructure, and is even training organizers for other Democratic campaigns. More »

More about:  Barack Obama Obama 2008 Democratic Party Howard Dean Democratic National Committee Tom Daschle

Frank: Romney Will Say Anything to Win

Potential McCain VP pick is 'completely without moral scruple'

(Newser) - Barney Frank ripped into Mitt Romney yesterday as part of a DNC effort to discredit the possible Republican VP choices, the Boston Herald reports. Citing flip-flops on abortion and gay rights, the Massachusetts Congressman called the ex-Massachusetts governor ‘the most intellectually inconsistent politician I’ve ever known.” Romney, he charged, will "say whatever he thinks will win the next election." More »

More about:  John McCain Mitt Romney Mike Huckabee vice presidential candidate Democratic National Committee DNC Barney Frank

Coloradans Exhaust Ticket Supply for Obama Speech

60K apply for state's allotment of about 30K at Denver stadium where Dem will accept

(Newser) - Colorado’s allotment of seats for Barack Obama’s Aug. 28 acceptance speech is accounted for, the Denver Post reports, with 60,000 people applying in 24 hours to be part of the bloc of about 30,000. There will be 60,000-75,000 seats available at Denver’s Invesco Field, with about half reserved for the host state. Requests from all states must be made by Tuesday, the AP adds. More »

More about:  Barack Obama Democratic National Convention Barack Obama supporters Denver Democratic National Committee Invesco Field

Short On Cash, Democrats Trim Convention

Long primary slows Denver fundraising; having nominee helps

(Newser) - Democrats are scaling back their national convention plans in the face of fundraising shortfalls, the AP reports. The Denver host committee has just $29 million of the $40.6 million it promised to deliver by yesterday. The committee says it’s confident it’ll get the money before the convention begins Aug. 25, but organizers are shaving $3 million off events and vendor obligations. More »

More about:  Democratic National Convention campaign fundraising Denver Democratic National Committee

Party Conventions: the Last Loophole for Big Donors

Issue may test McCain and Obama on their zeal to stop influence of big money

(Newser) - Big donors are pumping big money into both party's conventions, one of the last remaining loopholes in the rules governing so-called soft money contributions, the New York Times reports. And while it's all perfectly legal, the issue may test the conviction of both Barack Obama and John McCain on their desire to eliminate the influence of deep-pocketed contributors. More »

analysis

Dems Have Uncertain
Path Ahead

Much depends on Clinton, who seems resolved to defeat

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton made a very public point of keeping her options open—with Harold Ickes angrily reserving the campaign's right to appeal today's delegate decision—but she seems increasingly resolved to defeat, the New York Times reports. Instead of taking the fight to the convention, close associates think she'll drop out at some point after next week's results and endorse Barack Obama. Just don't bet the house on it. More »

More about:  Barack Obama Hillary Clinton Florida Michigan Democratic National Committee convention delegates Harold Ickes

 Dems Hashing Out Delegates 

Daylong meeting seeks compromise on Florida and Michigan

(Newser) - Democratic party leaders continue to wrangle over the disputed delegates of Florida and Michigan today, hearing impassioned pleas from representatives of both states and campaigns. Hundreds of protesters are gathered outside the Washington meeting as the party's rules committee seeks a compromise, the AP reports. “We are strong enough to struggle and disagree and to even be angry and disappointed and still come together at the end of the day and be united,” said party chief Howard Dean. More »

More about:  Barack Obama Hillary Clinton Democrats Florida Michigan Democratic National Committee convention delegates