December 27, 2007
Posted: 08:41 AM ET

Obama's campaign is again fundraising over attacks from independent groups.

(CNN) – For the second time in less than a week, Barack Obama’s campaign is making a pitch for cash based on attacks from independent groups that support Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.

“Outside groups are in the process of pouring more than $3.2 million into Iowa to support Hillary Clinton and John Edwards,” said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe in a message sent to supporters Thursday.

The e-mail says that a new group – the unnamed Alliance for a New America – is spending “nearly a million dollars of unregulated money” to run “a so-called issue ad in Iowa this week” that promotes the Edwards plan “and prominently features a smiling John Edwards.”

Obama and Edwards spent the weekend sparring over Edwards’ alleged connection to the group through his former aide, Nick Baldick.

It also accuses “Hillary Clinton's friends from Washington” of “spending millions on attacks, including a mailing that misleads voters by falsely disparaging Barack's universal health care plan,” writes Plouffe. “The mailing carefully uses a quote from another candidate and mimics the design of that candidate's mailings — apparently with the hope that Iowans offended by the negativity will think it came from someone else.”

Plouffe was refereeing to a mailing from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees – a union that backs Hillary Clinton’s candidacy – which does not mention that fact in the mail piece attacking Obama, but does prominently feature a negative quote from Edwards.

The three candidates are locked in a tight race for Democratic voters in Iowa in most recent polls, with just a week to go until the state’s caucuses, although one survey earlier this week seemed to show Hillary Clinton pulling away from both Obama and Edwards.

–CNN's Rebecca Sinderbrand

Filed under: Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Iowa • John Edwards


Bharati4Clinton   January 9th, 2008 12:17 am ET

I like all the candidates, there is no partiality from my side, but I bet my life (100%) that Hillary will win. It is because I always believed in people working together. Two heads are better than one head. And I look forward for her to win.

Samrat Chand   January 9th, 2008 12:08 am ET

Folks, as much as I like Obama and want him to win this race, I don't think this is going to happen. Also, I don't want it to happen because Obama is a new guy in this mess that surrounds us all today.

I like Obama because he is a great speaker, he is a fresh voice and representes minority in a big way which is a new change in itself. Since, he is a minority, he represents me too, so I benifit from it.

Yet, I favor Clinton over him why?

Well the reason is this; Clinton has a better experience than him. She has her husband who has been a president before and she can turn to him to deal with the current issues. So that gives us "Two Heads." that will work as presidents to solve the known problems. That means, with Clinton elected as president, we will have two presidents, one Hillary and the other Bill.

Right now what we need is a leader who can handle the economy, social and political issues both nationally as well as internationally. This response is needed quick and fast. As we speak, the country is incurring more debt and is in deep trouble. For Obama, I don't think he can work this out because the first few years he will take just to learn how to organize his people in offices. This is not going to help us. After all presidents are elected so that they can do "Something," for the people.

But, if Obama wins, I just pray that he does what he says. I am waiting eagerly for the result on all states so that I know, as an immigrant and as American, am I going to get out of this stress of economy and social constrains.

Major Man, Petersburg, VA   December 27th, 2007 5:22 pm ET

Obama's record:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/10/15/15918/791

Bhutto agrees with Sen. Obama's Pakistan statements:
http://www.cfr.org/publication/14041/

OBAMA '08!

Peter K.-- Oregon   December 27th, 2007 4:03 pm ET

I am a recovering Republican, fiscally conservative, 2nd Amendment supporting, socially liberal who strongly supports Mr. Obama. Reading his book I came to the conclusion that he indeed has the right stuff needed to bring together a coalition. No other candidate running could show the world that America is once again going to be the shining light and reject torture, secret prisons, suspension of habeas corpus and unwarranted war. If America can rise above it's history of prejudice and elect a man of color it will be a beacon to the whole world. Like many of my friends poised to vote Democratic, I none-the-less will not under any circumstances vote for Hillary–Since 1980 we have had a Bush or Clinton in the V/P or President position–thats 28 years. What message do we send the Putins' and Chavezes' of the world about dynasties when we support them ourselves. What message do we send the rest of the world about our "democracy". Republicans devoutly hope Mrs. Clinton is the nominee. Her pitiful sniping about Mr. Obama's presidential ambitions were sickening–do you think she moved to New York because she was a Yankee's fan? If you think the Bushes are secretive and power hungry, rewarding their supporters and punishing those with a different view, talk to those who have dealt with Mrs. Clinton. FACTOID: America has never elected a president with a last name ending in an A, I, O or U (4 had silent "E")–16 of the 43 Presidents had their last name end in "N"

benj   December 27th, 2007 3:45 pm ET

I think that Opra was hoping for an Obama/Opra ticket. Her racist speech in south carolina turned me against Obama for sure. He could not use Dr. King in his speeches but she could. He is such a phony. Ever time he gets up on a stage he has this swagger that says to me that he thinks he is better than everyone else.

Katy   December 27th, 2007 3:06 pm ET

To Sadhana Khan: Of course you're confused dear, you dont have any facts, you only have the misinformation put out there by Obama's opponents.

A new group, run by John Edwards' former campaign manager, is spending nearly a million dollars of unregulated money to run a so-called "issue" ad in Iowa this week. The ad touts "the Edwards plan" and prominently features a smiling John Edwards — but the group claims it isn't meant to promote one candidate or another. This after calling himself a fighter and strong talk about not taking money from special interests!

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton's friends from Washington are spending millions on attacks, including a mailing that misleads voters by falsely disparaging Barack's universal health care plan. The mailing carefully uses a quote from another candidate and mimics the design of that candidate's mailings — apparently with the hope that Iowans offended by the negativity will think it came from someone else.

Facts about Barack Obama:
Christian. International Relations degree; Community Organizer three yrs; Harvard Law graduate degree; Harvard Law Review President; Led Project Vote, signed up over 150,000 new African-American voters; Civil Rights lawyer & Professor of Constitutional Law 10 yrs; As civil rights lawyer, defended minority voters who challenged redistricting plans that diluted their vote; As a constitutional law lecturer, he taught classes on voting rights; Elected to Illinois Senate 1996 – (in the minority till 2002)-2004; (During his last two years in the majority, he sponsored 780 bills, 280 of which became law). Wrote health insurance law covering additional 20,000 children, a welfare reform law, an earned-income-tax-credit law for working-poor families, and death penalty reform that passed unanimously; Worked with both Democrats and Republicans in drafting successful legislation on ethics and health care reform; Sponsored a law enhancing tax credits for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for child care; Expanded healthcare to include 154.000 people in Illinois (including 70,000 children); Led the passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations, and a law to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped; Worked with police organizations" on death penalty reform."

Elected to US Senate 2004-2008; Joined Republican Richard Lugar in writing a law that funds the destruction or securing of loose nuclear and conventional weapons (shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, for example) throughout the world; Introduced the first bill, that soon became law, to fund and address pandemic flu preparedness; passed Lugar-Obama, a bill that expands the Nunn-Lugar cooperative threat reduction concept to conventional weapons, including shoulder-fired missiles and anti-personnel mines; Passed the "Coburn-Obama Transparency Act" provides for a web site, managed by the Office of Management and Budget, listing all organizations receiving Federal funds from 2007 onward, and providing breakdowns by the agency allocating the funds, the dollar amount given, and the purpose of the grant or contract; Enabled passage of "Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act," which had his name on it as the first sponsor; Worked with Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) in strengthening restrictions on travel in corporate jets to S.1, the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007; Sponsored with Kit Bond (R-MO) an amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Act adding safeguards for personality disorder military discharges, and calling for a review by the Government Accounting Office following reports that the procedure had been used inappropriately to reduce government costs; Sponsored the "Iran Sanctions Enabling Act" supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry; Joined Chuck Hagel (R-NE) in introducing legislation to prevent nuclear terrorism; Sponsored a Senate amendment to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to provide one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries; Reintroduced the Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act to improve the VA’s planning process to avoid budget shortfalls in the future; Authored the Sheltering All Veterans Everywhere Act (SAVE Act) to strengthen and expand federal homeless veteran programs that serve over 100,000 homeless veterans annually (would help veterans transition from the DOD health system to the VA system by extending the window in which new veterans can get mental health care from two years to five years; Announced that a provision authored by Obama and Senator Hagel (R-NE) in the Senate and advanced by Schiff in the House requiring a comprehensive nuclear threat reduction plan passed as part of the omnibus appropriations bill. This provision requires the President to submit to Congress a comprehensive plan for ensuring that all nuclear weapons and weapons-usable material at vulnerable sites around the world are secure by 2012 from the threats that terrorists have shown they can pose; Led the fight to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act, to oppose discriminatory photo-ID laws and improve our election machinery. His " Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act", which has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate Judiciary Committee, will enable investigations into deceptive and fraudulent practices.

Currently serves on Senate Committees for Foreign Relations; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Veterans' Affairs.

Karsen Rumpf, Iowa City, IA   December 27th, 2007 2:54 pm ET

Barack Obama is going to win hands down. I live in Iowa AND EVERYBODY LOVES HIM

NH Dem   December 27th, 2007 1:43 pm ET

sadhana khan is a spammer.

Essentially identical posts appear on a number of sites, visible here: http://www.google.com/search?q=%22denizens+of+Hollywood+like+Oprah%22&num=30&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=Klb&filter=0

Are we to believe that this continuation of the pattern of dishonesty, smears and shabby arms-length hitjobs is out of sync with the pure and high-minded official Hillary Clinton campaign? I don't buy it for a second.

Apparently, when Mrs. Clinton denounced the "vast right wing conspiracy" , she wasn't really opposed to its slime-throwing, swiftboating, false rumor spreading and character assassination, or the poisoning of America's political atmosphere. She was just upset that it wasn't working for her.

dmw, roeland park,ks   December 27th, 2007 1:25 pm ET

Every time Obama is challenged on anything, this is what he does:

1) Never answer the challenge;
2) Whine about being picked on;
3) Send out another fund raiser for more money;
4) Try to assure us that as God, he will bring hope and make everything alright;
5) Smile because he has fooled you all once again.

Seam, Philly PA   December 27th, 2007 1:00 pm ET

Hey sadhana khan: please stop all the madness. You are confusing yourself with that nonsense thinking.

Kim, Dallas, TX   December 27th, 2007 12:56 pm ET

It baffles me how many people still support Hillary. She reminds me of a plastic politician…same face, same cakkle, same precise scripted answers with absolutely no substance. The corruption that she stands for is not what our country or the Democratic party needs. I agree with one of the posts here in that if she were elected, we would be the new party taking our country down. Clinton is not in this for our country, she is in it for the power and goal achievement. She would not be the same leader as Bill was. The times are too different and we need someone that can unite us again. Hillary is a very divisive politician…more of the same in Washington is the last thing we need. Obama has my vote, he is one of the few that can bring this country back together. His work in Chicago shows what his priorities are and that he can unite along party lines. He was given many opportunities for much more prestigious jobs when he graduated from Harvard and yet he went back to lower Chicago, knowing the people needed him there. Take some time to get to know what he stands for. Those who call him a war monger are reacting to the media slant and not the truth of what his stand is. We should have been after Bin Laden all along and not allowed him to hide out. If you follow his thoughts, war is the last thing he would like to see. I never voted for Bush (and I vote every election), I never supported Bush's manipulation of fear to support his Iraq war. Obama knew all along that it was a "dumb" war and "dumb" move for our country. Now we are faced with making things right. More of the same Washington thought process is not going to make the changes our country needs. Hillary has voted for every war vote that has come to her, Iraq and Iran. She thinks she needs to show she is tough, when showing you are tough is showing you can go against the grain in Washington. I don't want someone that follows along like a blind sheep.

Vote Obama..or if you really want experience…vote Biden!

Geri Sacramento CA   December 27th, 2007 12:50 pm ET

So AGAIN Obama's asking for more donations to offset television ads favorable to other candidates? Boy, talk about money down a rathole!

Doug, Brentwood, Ca   December 27th, 2007 12:44 pm ET

As Obama's poll numbers sink lower, and Edwards' and Hillary's numbers continue to rise, he's in a real panic mode. There will be plenty more ads in favor of other candidates so Obama's supporters had better keep their checkbooks at the ready. What a Crybaby!

sadhana khan   December 27th, 2007 11:24 am ET

I was elected yesterday, Obama said. I have never set foot in the U.S. Senate. Ive never worked in Washington. And the notion that somehow Im immediately going to start running for higher office just doesnt make sense. So look, I can unequivocally say I will not be running for national office in four years, and my entire focus is making sure that Im the best possible senator on behalf of the people of Illinois. He further elaborated: Look, Im a state senator who hasnt even been sworn in yet. My understanding is that I will be ranked 99th in seniority. Im going to be spending the first several months of my career in the U.S. Senate looking for the washroom and trying to figure out how the phones work.

So, in four years, Obama went from figuring out how to use the telephones and finding bathrooms, to becoming a foreign policy expert, while missing 1/3 of his votes and failing to hold a single hearing as the CHAIR of Senate Foreign Relations committee. Right?

When Oprah went down to SC, there was all this Obama is the messiah hype. Oprah said –He is the one - But you know what, Obama is little substance, all hype. The key to his success: a freshness, a lack of record to run on, the constant repetition of simple feel-good platitudes that lull listeners into a sense of trust and induce in them a yearning to believe. No wonder Barack Obama is so popular among denizens of Hollywood like Oprah: they certainly have an eye for those who can create an image, can generate a buzz that compels others to suspend their disbelief, and who can induce a trance-like stargazing. But the fact is that Barack Obama does have a record to run on and its a record of vote dodging and triangulation. Barack Obama talks about the audacity of hope… but how about the audacity to show up and vote.. and not criticize others over resolutions you conveniently missed while campaigning

so I'm confused, Obama says we should bomb Pakistan if dictators and militants run free, but then he says he opposes the war in Iraq in 2002, but in 2004 says he agrees with Bush and how he runs the war on terror, then in 2004 also says that if he had been in the Senate he might have voted differently, and then he votes the exactly the same way as HIllary Clinton on Iraq, but then attacks her vote on the Iran resolution, while skipping the vote to campaign. He opposes the patriot act while campaigning, yet votes for its renewal in the senate. OBAMA is all hype

Charles T, VA   December 27th, 2007 11:21 am ET

I can't believe we going through this all over again. For years we've cried for change but when the opportunity comes we don't see it or we vote foolishly and cry again tomorrow.

Clinton and Edwards really represent the old tactics of politics but some americans are so clinton blind to see it. I wonder why we allow such people to vote and put us in misery.

It has to be Obama folks, put blind loyalty aside and remember the last election we had with all these games. Hillary and Edwards are playing the games Obama warned us about and I believe IOWANS will see it for what it is.

We can't waste this opportunity again, not this time. WE WANT CHANGE and Obama will give it us and create an open government for the people.

Polls show he beats all republicans, rivals distorts his policies and sometimes steal his themes for campaigning to blurr voters so they see no differences.

His experience in the real life of Americans with more years outside Washington is refreshing and we can't do the right thing.

If we nominate Clinton then I will ask Gravel to sign a book for me, that i now believe Americans are getting fatter and dumber. And when Clinton takes the democratic party down with her (if she wins the nomination but I know will lose the presidential election), I want democrats to look at themselves and ask what next?

Now look at Pakistan, when Obama was so right about going after Al-queda there if spotted. Our priority should be to secure those nuclear bombs there at all cost.

Kade, Phoenix, Arizona   December 27th, 2007 11:05 am ET

"…although one survey earlier this week seemed to show Hillary Clinton pulling away from both Obama and Edwards."

Notice they feel the need to throw this in. Very nice CNN, you're ridiculous.

RICH, NY   December 27th, 2007 10:48 am ET

THIS IS POLITICS MY FRIENDS AND OBAMA JUST NEED TO STICK TO THE TRUTH AND CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT EFFECT EVERY AMERICAN IF YOU SPEND TO MUCH TIME DEBATING ALL THE POLITICAL TRASH TALK IOWANS WILL MISS OUT ON THE BEST CHANCE FOR A PRESIDENT THAT CAN RESTORE RESPECT AND HONOR TO THE WORLD!

roger, conway sc   December 27th, 2007 10:20 am ET

Of all the candidates I hope Obama fails for his bid for the presidency, I think he is a phony & very inexperienced in politics, regardless of what his friend Oprah thinks…He has done nothing but attack the other candidates causing them to spend their time responding to his junk…he needs to go back to Il….

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