Money Changes Everything

Bloomberg highlights a potentially huge story as Q3 fundraising winds down: Sen. Hillary Clinton "may blunt one of rival Barack Obama's few advantages in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination: money."

"As the campaigns press donors with predictions that their candidate is losing the fund-raising race, both Clinton and Obama are set to report about $20 million in donations during the third quarter, which ends Sept. 30, according to campaign officials and fund-raisers."

"A failure to out-raise Clinton would deprive Obama of the momentum he needs to overcome his rival's significant leads in national and key state polls."

Meanwhile, the New York Times points out a key factor to watch: "The third quarter of the year, July through September, is traditionally the most difficult fund-raising period because contributors pay less attention to the race in the summer, and many main donors have been tapped out."

Primary Ad Spending to Top $100 Million

"Presidential candidates, the political parties and interest groups will spend at least twice as much as they did in 2003-04 on TV ads before nominees are chosen, campaign advertising experts say," USA Today reports.

"A record $100 million or more will likely be paid to put campaign ads on the air by the time the Republican and Democratic races are effectively over, likely some time in February. And the allure of posting ads for free on YouTube and at campaign websites won't replace broadcast TV because that "old media" is better suited for reaching voters, the experts say."

Thompson Fails to Impress Religious Right

Fred Thompson "is failing to meet expectations that he would rally widespread support from Christian conservatives, and he almost certainly will not receive a joint endorsement from the loose coalition of 'pro-family' organizations," reports The Politico.

"It is Thompson's stance on gay marriage that is likely to deny him any unified backing from the organizations that comprise the Arlington Group, the umbrella coalition of almost every major social conservative group in the GOP constellation."

Meanwhile, the Examiner notes Thompson will be at the same conference with one of conservative Christian leader and fellow InfoCision client, Dr. James Dobson of Focus On The Family, who earlier this year questioned whether the former Tennnessee senator was even a Christian, let alone a conservative.

Quote of the Day

"I'm not beholden to any particular group for getting me into this race or for getting me elected. My family, that's the only one I'm really beholden to, they're the ones who let their inheritance slip away, dollar by dollar."

-- Mitt Romney, quoted by the AP on donating millions of his own money to his campaign.