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Published December 23, 2015
The Obama campaign apparently doesn't want to provide big campaign cash to aid Democratic lawmakers running for re-election on Capitol Hill, a stark change from previous years.
POLITICO reports that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and have tried to get $30 million from Obama's campaign arm, Obama for America (OFA), and also the Democratic National Committee (DNC), but the Obama team declined the request. The news site reports that Campaign Manager Jim Messina and White House Senior Aide David Plouffe met with Reid and Pelosi on Capitol Hill last week.
President Obama's campaign war chest initially was estimated to be in the upwards of $1 billion. While aides have downplayed it would reach that milestone, even if it's tens of millions shy, Obama's still expected to have another record-breaking cycle.
The move is seen as the Obama campaign focusing on its main goal, keeping the president in office for a second term, but also possibly alienating some lawmakers or even jeopardizing his party's ability to gain or retain seats on the Hill.
While OFA would didn't confirm the meetings or money, they did say there was a willingness for support, even if it's not financial.
In a statement to confirmed Fox, Obama's top campaign manager Jim Mesinna said, "Our top priority and focus is to secure the electoral votes necessary to reelect the president."
He added that there is a new challenge to Democrats because of the cash that so-called SuperPACs are funneling into elections, "We're committed to doing everything we can to elect a Democratic House and Senate, and we're having a conversation about the best way to achieve that goal," Messina said.
He also said they have grassroots ground work in play, "The organization and turnout operation we're building on the ground in states across the country is unparalleled, and it will help to elect Democratic candidates up and down the ballot," Messina said.
SuperPACs came into force after a key Supreme Court decision and have been able to show considerable influence in the GOP primary race. Just recently the White House gave the green light for supports to give cash to an Obama-backed group. Previously Obama had decried their influence.
So far Obama's fundraising calendar hasn't included many events for the Democratic re-election arms on Capitol Hill, the DSCC and DCCC. The president also hasn't scheduled appearances for individuals.
Obama has held 100 fundraisers since announcing his re-election campaign in April of last year.
A source who was intimately involved in fundraising and campaigns for the Democrats in the past tells Fox News' Senior House Producer Chad Pergram, "This is not terribly surprising though. Congressional Democrats had a very tough time squeezing money out of (Obama) in ‘08 and ‘10. They have always been more about Obama than the party."
Some expect this issue to however not be over yet and that Pelosi may still have some influence in reaching out to donors and getting them to weigh in, the source added, and also that "House Democrats won't forget this."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/obama-campaign-reportedly-wont-give-campaign-cash-to-hill-democrats