Professor Smith Discusses Obama's Fundraising

CONTRA COSTA TIMES -- The Republican National Committee outraised the DNC in August, finishing that month with $3 million more in the bank, campaign finance reports showed; September's numbers are not yet available. But even when embattled, this president still can pack a Bay Area room and raise big bucks, said Robert Smith, a San Francisco State University Political Science professor. ​​ “People who have that kind of money will spend a lot to spend some time in the president’s presence,” he said, adding that Obama’s relatively low popularity level means he’s more useful passing the hat than stumping for candidates. “His role as party leader is limited to raising money. In the places in the country where there are contested races, he’s not of any help by going there to campaign.”