Obama Fundraiser Nets Congressional Democrats $3.25 Million
President Obama attended a couple fundraisers in San Francisco Wednesday that brought Democrats $3.25 million to use for the mid-term elections coming up in 2014. This marks Obama’s first fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the current election cycle.
At the fundraising events, the president talked about his plans for the second term and expressed frustrations he has felt so far.
“My hope is that we’re going to see more and more Republicans who say, you know what, I didn’t come here just to fight the president or demonize Nancy Pelosi, I came here to get some stuff done, and they will be greeted with great enthusiasm by me and I think by Nancy, if we could get some more stuff done right now,” Obama said at one of two fundraising events held in the Bay Area. “But, realistically, I could get a whole lot more done if Nancy Pelosi is speaker of the House.”
California Representative Nancy Pelosi is currently the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. She became the first female Speaker of the House when the Democrats took control of the House in a landslide in 2006 and lost the position when Republicans took back the House in 2010. If the Democrats regain control of the House, Pelosi would get to return to her role as speaker.
At the end of February, the DCCC had $7.6 million cash on hand, compared to $4.4 held by the National Republican Campaign Committee. The president will attend 14 fundraising events altogether this year. Five events will go towards electing representatives while another five will go towards senators. The remaining two will be shared events aimed at electing Democratic candidates in general.
Still in California today, the president expressed frustration with the degree of gridlock in Washington. He is confident that Congress will pass immigration reform, but gun control proposals have come against a more ardent opposition. The GOP feels compelled to attract Latino voters following two presidential defeats, but it does not wish to alienate its base by caving on gun control. If the Democrats manage to regain full control of Congress in 2014, it may make it easier for Obama to pass his agenda during his final two years as president. On the other hand, a Democratic majority does not guarantee an easy ride. Obama walked into the White House with both houses of Congress in his corner in 2008, and passing health care reform still proved to be a monumental undertaking. What is just as frustrating as an antagonistic majority? The filibuster.
Obama and congressional Democrats are thankful for the $3.25 million, because they are going to need it.
[Image via Randall Stevens / Shutterstock.com]
