Obama Uses Peer Pressure, Embarrassment To Raise Money

In the high stakes world of fundraising, President Obama's campaign is turning to an unusual tactic: calling out supporters who haven't yet ponied up a dime.

[Read: Obama Seeks More $5 Dinners With Fans.]

If you've signed up to be on Obama's campaign E-mail list but have yet to donate, then you too may have received an note today like the one Whispers received. In it campaign manager Jim Messina notes that we're among the few in our town who haven't sent the campaign a check.

"Here's something you don't have in common with 62 other supporters of this movement who tell us they live in your area," he writes. "That many of your neighbors have decided to own a piece of this campaign by making a donation of whatever they could afford. For some, that meant just $5. For others, it meant $100 or more. But each had their own personal reason for giving. Our records show that you aren't one of the 62 people in Purcellville, VA who have stepped up for 2012. Now's your chance to change that."

[See photos of the Obamas behind the scenes.]

Campaign officials assure us that the fundraising efforts of the president are doing very well and that tactics like this one simply work to remind supporters to donate.

Here's Messina's E-mail:

"Paul,

Here's something you don't have in common with 62 other supporters of this movement who tell us they live in your area.

That many of your neighbors have decided to own a piece of this campaign by making a donation of whatever they could afford. For some, that meant just $5. For others, it meant $100 or more. But each had their own personal reason for giving.

Our records show that you aren't one of the 62 people in Purcellville, VA who have stepped up for 2012. Now's your chance to change that.

Make a donation of $5 or more today to support the campaign before the critical September 30th deadline.

Here's why you should join your neighbors in supporting this campaign: We've been running the numbers, and with hundreds of thousands of individual donors across the country—we are now well on our way to a million people.

In the 2008 campaign, it took us more than a year to reach that milestone. This time around, we could cross it as soon as October—just six months after the launch of the campaign.

Between now and then, we have an important fundraising deadline.

Our opponents have significant operations on the ground in key battleground states, full-time candidates without day jobs, and a lot of media attention to fuel their campaigns.

President Obama has you. And when you're building a grassroots organization from the bottom up, the first person gets the next one involved. And the first 62 provide the foundation and inspiration for the next 62.

Support the campaign before the deadline, and bring us closer to one million donors—give $5 today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/One-in-a-Million

Thank you,

Messina

Jim Messina

Campaign Manager

Obama for America"

• Check out political cartoons about President Obama.
• Read: Obama Says $5 Dinner Offer is No Joke.
• See political cartoons about President Obama.

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