Obama Raises $53M for Campaign in March

By KEN THOMAS, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama raised a combined $53 million for his campaign, the Democratic Party and other campaign funds in March, his campaign said Monday as it prepared to face Mitt Romney and a rejuvenated GOP in the general election.

Obama has collected nearly $350 million since the start of the campaign last year, representing a boost in campaign cash compared with recent months. He has raised about $127 million for his campaign, the Democratic National Committee and other campaign funds since the beginning of 2012.

Obama has entered a new phase in which he faces a direct challenge from Romney, who has begun raising money jointly with the Republican National Committee to overcome the president's fundraising edge. The RNC raised $13.7 million in March, its best month of the election cycle and has $32.7 million in cash.

[Read: Five Economic Mistakes Obama is Making.]

Romney had raised about $75 million through the end of February and ended the month with about $7.2 million in the bank. His campaign was expected to announce fundraising totals for March this week.

Obama's campaign had $84.7 million in cash-on-hand through the end of February and was expected to detail its cash position in an upcoming report with the Federal Election Commission.

Obama's campaign team has tried to generate a sense of urgency, telling donors they need to get involved because of Republican-leaning super PACs aiming to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to defeat the president."We're all going to have to dig even deeper, work even harder, move even faster," said Obama campaign manager Jim Messina in a video released Monday outlining the fundraising totals. "It's going to take all of us working together."

[Read: Obama Campaign Ready for a 'Ramping Up' On Romney.]

RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said Obama "cannot run on his record and is simply offering shiny objects to distract from his failure to bring hope and change to Americans as he promised."

The president has ramped up his fundraising pace in 2012, collecting about $29 million in January and $45 million in February. But Republicans note that Obama's fundraising efforts this year are slightly behind the $136 million his campaign raised during the first three months of 2008 when he didn't have the party's fundraising apparatus at his disposal.

Obama's campaign said earlier this year that it would bless big-money super PACs supporting Democrats as a way of countering the Republican effort. The Democratic outside groups have struggled to raise money compared to their GOP-leaning counterparts, raising concerns among party activists.

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GSA Heads Slammed During Congressional Hearing

As if there wasn't enough outrage at the more than $840,000 the General Services Administration forked over for an circus-like conference. Ohio Rep. Michael Turner pointed out Monday during a House Oversight Committee hearing that many of the trinkets guests walked away from the Las Vegas conference with weren't even made in the United States.

"This is one of those examples of spending under your leadership," Turner said firmly, holding up a vest for former GSA administrator Martha Johnson to see. "All of these items are being purchased and made in China, so we are stimulating China, not the United States."

Many of the conference's extras were outsourced, from the blackajack-themed vests adorned with the conference logo that cost more than $1,000 to a bag with the conference insignia.

Compared to past gatherings, the GSA Western Regional conference reached a historic level of excess in 2010. In 2004, the conference cost taxpayers just over $400,000. In 2006, the cost actually decreased to nearly $324,000. Even the 2008 conference, where the GSA spent double from the year before, paled in comparison to 2010 spending.

"Thank God this time what happened in Vegas didn't stay in Vegas," Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly said.

Johnson, who resigned in light of the scandal, appeared remorseful at the hearing, apologizing for what transpired on her watch.

"I personally apologize to the American people," Johnson said. "As the head of the agency, I am responsible and deeply regret this. I will mourn for the rest of my life the loss of my appointment."

Not all were as cooperative.

Jeff Neely, the pacific rim's regional commissioner for GSA and the man who allegedly approved the spending, pleaded the Fifth and refused to answer questions from the committee.

Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, however, read several incriminating E-mails Neely sent to friends who were not GSA employees, inviting them to the conference. "We'll get you guys a room near us, and we'll pick up the room tab," Neely wrote. "I know I am bad, but as I often say 'Why not enjoy it while you have it...Ain't going to last forever.'"

Brian Miller, the GSA's inspector general, testified that many of Neely's employees had declined to alert authorities about their boss's excessive spending earlier for fear of "being squashed like a bug."

"We had a witness that was extremely afraid," Miller says. "That witness was extremely afraid that even in her new job, she would face retaliation."

Many of the congressmen also grilled Johnson about why, even after she was aware of Neely's involvement in the scandal, she had approved a $9,000 bonus.

"There is frustration just steaming out of our ears," Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz said. "And for the President of the United States to look the American people in the eye and say 'Well, we've got a pay freeze in place,' while you're giving bonuses and going on trips is totally unacceptable."

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