Change Is What Localities Get From Obama
By Jason Kenney | Monday, October 20th, 2008 | PoliticsThey might be raising $150 million dollars in one month, but don’t expect the Obama campaign to be paying their own bills:
Two weeks ago, Barack Obama stopped in Newport News, attracting about 18,000 people to downtown, packing Victory Landing Park and infusing a depressed neighborhood with excitement not often seen there.
The Oct. 4 event — for which the city had only two days to prepare — was a logistical challenge. “It was a big deal,” said Neil Morgan, an assistant city manager who oversees the city’s public safety departments. “It consumed a lot of time and energy for a brief time. And it went really smoothly.”
But once all the hustle and bustle settled and the last campaign signs and buttons were swept out of the park, the event came with a $20,000 to $30,000 price tag for Newport News for additional security for Obama, most of it for overtime for the city’s public safety employees such as police officers.
In light of the recent economic gloom and doom, some city officials wondered whether the city could recoup some dollars from the campaign.
The answer: Hardly. The Obama campaign reimbursed the city for $4,693 worth of bottled drinking water for the crowd. That surprised at least one council member. “I am just looking for money,” Councilwoman Madeline McMillan said.
McCain/Palin’s rally in Virginia Beach was paid for by the McCain campaign and actually made Virginia Beach money. You couldn’t ask for a starker contrast between government subsidizing versus pay as you go.
Tags:
Contribute for Conservatism!
Share this post
About the author
Jason Kenney has blogged at J’s Notes since 2001, is the director of RedStormPAC providing online fundraising for Republican candidates in Virginia, and co-founder of K6 Consulting. He is a graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University and resides in Richmond, Virginia.
Comments
2 Responses to "Change Is What Localities Get From Obama"
According to the article you linked to, Virginia Beach must have made money of Democratic events held there as well.
Seems to me the problem lies with Newport News. They should have refused to schedule the event unless expenses were paid for ahead of time.
The difference is the usage of the convention center in Virginia Beach. The Obama campaign paid the same rates as McCain did during his rally.
Also read:
When campaigns arrive, locals pay dearly
Leave your response
The comments section is for meaningful discussion. Readers are reminded to post comments that are germane to the article and write in a common language that steers clear of personal attacks and/or vulgarities.
Please take a moment to review our comment policy.