A Great Fundraising Appeal

Here's the deal. I think John Edwards is running a smart, issues-focused campaign. And he's not just offering platitudes when he talks issues. He's got some very detailed proposals. I think you ought to support him and you can donate to him by clicking here.

Having said that, I think Barack Obama offered up the most creative and compelling fundraising appeal of the year so far.

Here's a guy that's got them talking in New Hampshire and Iowa about how campaigns have entered a new era where the top tier candidates are no longer able to do hundreds of small, intimate gatherings with real folks because of the crush of the candidates' celebrity. How do you fight that image, the image of high rollers buying access with their contributions and still raise some money?

You invite a few small donors to an intimate dinner. Not only that but this appeal has a lottery type feel as well where people have a chance to win something. I would think a lot of people might find that "chance to win" a compelling hook.

I think this appeal is brilliant. My wife is supporting Obama. Here's the e-mail she got earlier this week.

--- "David Plouffe, BarackObama.com"
wrote:

> Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 13:54:52 -0400
> To:
> From: "David Plouffe, BarackObama.com"
>
> Subject: Dinner with Barack?
>
> Make a donation in the next week and you could have dinner with
> Barack:
>
> https://donate.barackobama.com/dinnerforfive
>
> Dear ,
>
> Most political fundraisers are hosted by lobbyists and filled with
> representatives of special interests.
>
> But our campaign is different.
>
> Our funding comes from a movement of Americans giving whatever they
> can afford, even $5, and Barack wants to sit down with supporters like
> you.
>
> In the next week, four donors will be selected for a new kind of
> fundraising dinner. If you make a donation in any amount between now
> and 11:59 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 13, you could join Barack and
> three other supporters for an intimate dinner for five.
>
> Two seats will be reserved for people like you who have given before
> and decide to make another donation during this special drive. Will
> you renew your generous support and take a chance at having dinner
> with Barack?
>
> https://donate.barackobama.com/dinnerforfive
>
> Our movement is changing the way campaigns are funded. We're not
> taking any contributions from Washington lobbyists or political action
> committees.
>
> More than 100,000 individual donors have demonstrated that this choice
> is about more than an election. It's about each of us having a
> personal stake in the future of American politics.
>
> The dinner for five is an opportunity for you to sit down with Barack
> and your fellow supporters and talk about what matters to you.
>
> Get the kind of treatment other politicians reserve for special
> interests. Make a donation in the next week, and you could share your
> story and your ideas with Barack in person:
>
> https://donate.barackobama.com/dinnerforfive
>
> With every single donation, we're building a movement to change
> American politics. And this is just the beginning.
>
> Thanks for your support,
> David
>
> David Plouffe
> Campaign Manager
> Obama for America>

I'm impressed. What a great way to frame yourself as a populist.