Obama campaign finances

Arnaldo,

I'm the Chief Financial Officer for Barack Obama's campaign. I track the donations coming in and the expenses going out.

I asked for the opportunity to write to you directly so that I could try to explain what's happening right now.

This weekend the McCain campaign said they would outspend us by $10 million in the final days. This is on top of recent news that, as of October 15th, our opponents had $20 million more in the bank than our campaign and the DNC combined. We knew the McCain campaign was saving its resources for a last-minute blitz, and now we know just how much they'll pour into it. No matter what, we need to match what our opponents are spending in the final stretch. We can't slow down between now and Election Day.

If you give today -- any amount -- you could be one of 5 first-time donors who will have a front row seat for the big Election Night event in Chicago with Barack. Make a donation of $5 or more right now:
There's no doubt about it, supporters like you have fundamentally changed how presidential campaigns are funded. You drive this campaign.

That's why Barack wants you to be there on Election Night as the results come in. If you're selected, we'll fly you and a guest in and put you up in a hotel. You'll go backstage at the big event and -- no matter what happens -- you'll have a front row seat to history as we celebrate the supporters who got us over the finish line. Any donation counts -- whatever you can afford. Make a donation of $5 or more before midnight Sunday and you could have a front row seat to history on Election Night: https://donate.barackobama.com/frontrow

These last 2 days, we have to redouble our efforts. And we're counting on you more than ever before.Let's make this happen.

Thanks,

Marianne Markowitz

Chief Financial Officer - Obama for America