Memo from Obama Campaign

The Obama campaign today sent the below email to supporters from Barack Obama on the subject of 3rd party spending in the early states. From the email (full text below):

“Right now groups supporting Hillary Clinton and John Edwards are flooding Iowa and the other early states with millions of dollars in paid ads, phone calls, and mailings. Some of it is negative and even deceptive, and a lot of it is paid for by huge, unregulated contributions from special interests. Taking on these groups isn't just a matter of setting the record straight about me or my positions. It's about proving that a new kind of campaign -- funded by ordinary people who want something better for all of us -- can defeat the same tired, old political textbook that so many Americans just don't trust anymore.”

To give you a sense of the spending in Iowa right now, below is the most up-to-date independent expenditure information in Iowa.

For Hillary Clinton

AFSCME: $907,177.24

AFT: $635,822.19

Emily's List: $297,806.69

Total: $1,840,426.12

For John Edwards

Working for Working Americans/Carpenters: $516,216.51

Alliance for a New America (SEIU): $760,801.00

Total: $1,277,017.51

________________________________
From: Barack Obama
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 2:04 PM
To: Bill Burton
Subject: History will be made

Bill --

When our supporters in Iowa walk into their local caucuses two weeks from today, they won't only be representing me.

They'll be representing you and every other supporter of this movement for change.

Let's show them just how many of us are behind them.

Here's our historic goal for the home stretch: 500,000 people owning a piece of this campaign by January 3rd -- more people than have ever donated to a presidential campaign before the voting begins.

This milestone will be a clear signal to those who rely on donations from Washington lobbyists and spending from outside special interests to support their campaigns that we are a movement of people who stand for real change.

Time is running out to be part of history. But right now one of the 454,236 people who have donated to our campaign is waiting to match your first online donation.

Make your donation of $25 now and your impact will be doubled during these final days before the voting begins:

It's more important than ever to take action.Right now groups supporting Hillary Clinton and John Edwards are flooding Iowa and the other early states with millions of dollars in paid ads, phone calls, and mailings.

Some of it is negative and even deceptive, and a lot of it is paid for by huge, unregulated contributions from special interests.

Taking on these groups isn't just a matter of setting the record straight about me or my positions.

It's about proving that a new kind of campaign -- funded by ordinary people who want something better for all of us -- can defeat the same tired, old political textbook that so many Americans just don't trust anymore.

Make your matching donation now to make it happen:

In exactly two weeks, Iowa will begin a succession of contests that culminates in almost two dozen states voting at once on February 5th.The presence and influence of these outside groups is only going to grow as the campaign moves into more battlegrounds.

It's going to be intense, but with a movement owned by half a million people, we can take the fight to them and win.

Our time is now.

Barack