Obama raises $52M in June

Obama campaign released June numbers today and they are indeed impressive.  From an e-mail (and on the website) sent out to supporters today:

Because of your generosity and commitment, we’re reporting to the press today that this campaign is in a very strong financial position.

In the month of June, supporters like you helped raise $52 million.

But more impressive than the number is how you did it. Hundreds of thousands of ordinary people contributed to building our campaign for change. Many were first-time donors, giving only what they could afford — and the average donation was just $68.

…

They go on to say that between McCain and the RNC, Obama is actually at a disadvantage, but I am not sure how much of a disadvantge he is really at.  After all, McCain only raised 22M in June.  But I suppose a $400M campaign between McCain’s campaign and the RNC (see previous post) would worry me a bit, even if I did raise $52M in 30 days.  Theres not much else to say on this except: Good job Obama!

Dow chooses Michigan for new Headquarters

This is a day old, but being from Midland, the global headquarters of Dow Chemical (and NO, I don’t glow at night… not yet), anytime Dow does anything it is big news here.  So, in the backdrop of GM’s disappointing announcement, Dow made its own announcement which really made quite a few people very happy.

From the Midland Daily News:

The Dow Chemical Co.’s $11 billion joint venture with Kuwait’s Petrochemical Industries Co. will be headquartered in Michigan.

…

The exact city also hasn’t been determined, with the decision to be partially based on approval of incentives offered to the company.

Dow President and CEO Andrew Liveris said the choice of Michigan for the headquarters was consistent with the positive business environment in Michigan, where Dow has more than 110 years of history. Dow’s corporate center is in Midland.

Stabenow manages high-profile meeting in DC

Michigan’s very own Senator Debbie Stabenow managed a recent meeting in Washington DC between Democratic leadership and 17 CEOs of large trade groups. Below are some highlights from the Politico article:

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who managed the meeting for the leadership, called in the CEOs of the city’s most powerful trade associations to circumvent what Democrats consider their more partisan lobbyists — many of whom are Republicans with long-standing ties to the power structure that got toppled in 2006.

…

One of the business leaders said that Reid and Stabenow were explicit in expressing the importance of dialogue with the business community. He said the Democrats then let their guests do most of the talking.

“People left the meeting with a very positive sense that the Democrats are interested in engaging with the business community in a more broad-minded way than has been in the past,” he said.

The Democrats delivered their message through compliments rather than direct threats. A Democratic aide who attended the meeting said the senators “were thanking people for having broken [from Republicans] on certain things.”

The biotech lobby was thanked for its help with tax extenders and stem cells. PhRMA, which didn’t make the meeting because its leader was ill, was called out for its help with the Medicare push.

I would strongly suggest reading the entire article as it is certainly worth the read.  It is nice to know that my Senator is working to bring everyone into the fold and is doing her part to stop partisan gridlock.  Especially when you consider how much Republicans and big-business like to brand Senator Stabenow as a ‘protectionist’ and ‘anti-growth’, etc, it is nice to see her taking such a pro-business step!