SNEAK PEEK: "Show me the Money!"
The two campaigns are competely not only for delegates but also for dollars.
February 7, 2008— -- Perhaps the only thing clear in this very unclear Democratic nomination race is that it is going to continue and in order to continue the campaigns are going to need significant cash.
The race could go all the way until April 22 in Pennsylvania and in between now and then, 14 states and the District of Columbia hold primaries and caucuses. The voting is spreadout from Maine to Hawaii so travel and advertising will not come cheap.
(Who is the first candidate to pull the Dick Cheney '04 move and travel overnight for a rally in Honolulu?)
After Barack Obama's campaign announced they hauled in a massive $32 million in January, Hillary Clinton's campaign was mum, signaling they had not come close to that figure.
Late yesterday it came out that Clinton had donated $5 million of her own money to her campaign and senior staff were going to work without paychecks for the month to conserve cash.
Things sounded grim. The same staff paycheck announcement was the start of the media death watch for the Rudy Giuliani campaign.
Well, perhaps things were not so dire after all – and maybe that was all just a clever ploy to assume the mantle of underdog and kick the donors in gear?
ABC News' Kate Snow reports that senior staff members on the campaign are not going without pay – they never stopped receiving checks. And Team Clinton announced Thursday that they have raised 7.5 million since Feb. 1, including $6.4 million in the last 24-30 hours.
The Obama campaign has the edge, reporting that they have raised $7,596,326 since polls closed on Feb 5th
On a conference call with the campaign's finance committee, national chairman Terry McAuliffe heard from two fundraisers who cited the $5 million loan as a factor in prompting others to send in the money.
"I think Hillary's contribution to the campaign has been an additional factor… It showed people she was prepared to go to the line," said one.
On the Republican side, the field shrunk once again, with the announcement from Mitt Romney that he is suspending his campaign for the Republican nomination.
Now it really is the two-man race that Mike Huckabee spoke of on Tuesday night. John McCain has essentially wrapped up the nomination with Romney's withdrawal but Huckabee is hanging in there at least through his speech at CPAC on Saturday and the Virginia primary on Tuesday.
On the campaign trail. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- 9:30 am ET: Attends National Security Roundtable, Norfolk, VA
-- 10:30 am ET: Holds media availability, Norfolk, VA
-- 2:45 pm ET: Holds media availability, Kansas City, KS
-- 9:00 pm ET: Attends event in Seattle, WA
-- Holds media availability, Seattle, WA
As for the Democrats. . .
BARACK OBAMA
-- 2:00 pm ET: Attends rally with voters, Seattle, WA
MICHELLE OBAMA
-- 12:30 pm ET: Attends rally with voters, Lincoln, NE
-- 6:00 pm ET: Attends rally with voters, Spokane, WA
HILLARY CLINTON
-- Attends events in Washington State
At the White House. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- 7:15 am ET: Delivers remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference, Washington, DC
-- 12:55 pm ET: Meets with the President of Mali, Washington, DC
POLITICAL NEWS STORIES AT ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: Romney's Graceful Exit Opens Door to Future Run LINK
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: Stimulus Breakthrough in Congress LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: After Hammering McCain for Skipping a Stimulus Vote, Clinton Skips a Stimulus Vote LINK
ABC News' Jennifer Parker and Matt Stuart Report: Romney Abandons Bid for GOP Presidential Nomination LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: A Few Thoughts About Mitt Romney LINK
ABC News' Kate Snow Reports: Clinton Campaign Staffers Not Going Without Pay LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Clinton Scoffed at Debates in 2006, Loves Them Now LINK
ABC News' Lynn Sherr Reports: Clinton/Obama: Not History's First Dream Ticket LINK
ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Obama Highlights Plan to Build New Orleans LINK
ABC News' Kevin Chupka Reports: Huck's Press Plane Makes Emergency Landing LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: And Obama Wept LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Conservative Told Not to Boo McCain LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: In Interview, Hillary Attacks McCain on Economy LINK
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: Senate Leader Writes Off Huckabee, Paul LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Clinton Standard Time LINK
ABC News' David Wright Reports: Obama to Clinton: Release Your Tax Returns LINK
ABC News' Kate Snow Reports: Clinton Hauling in Cash LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Colbert, Conan & Stewart Fight Over Huckabee LINK
POLITICAL VIDEO AT ABCNEWS.COM
McCain Plays Up Conservative Principles
McCain tries to reassure conservatives about his record at the CPAC conference. LINK
McCain Knocks Dem Rivals
Sen. McCain tells CPAC goers he'll fight to preserve conservative values. LINK
Mitt Romney Suspends His Campaign
ABC's George Stephanopoulos on the outlook for the presidential race. LINK
Inside the Battle Zone
ABC's Martha Raddatz travels to the volatile Afghanistan-Pakistan border. LINK
Does John McCain Have it Made?
Mitt Romney suspends his campaign, so, is everything coming up roses for McCain? LINK
Romney Campaign Suspended
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney says he is "suspending" his campaign. LINK
Clinton Bashes McCain for Skipping Stimulus Vote
Sen. Clinton talks with ABC's Jake Tapper about the state of the economy. LINK
Hasselbeck Gets a Call from Chelsea
Clinton daughter rings up "View" co-host to ask for support in election. LINK
The Long and Bumpy Road to '08
The presidential candidates look ahead to the next round of primaries. LINK
Angelina Jolie in Iraq
The Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations visits U.S. troops. LINK
Remembering ABC's John McWethy
The longtime national security correspondent died in a ski accident. LINK