It looks like the McCain campaign is using attacks from the left for second time in as many weeks for much-need campaign cash. In an e-mail appeal sent to supporters Monday, Campaign Manager Rick Davis is asking for dollars to combat the “angry liberal left,” after a coalition of groups announced a multi-million dollar plan to take down McCain.

Last week’s McCain fundraising letter attacking the NY Times–after the paper printed a questionable story about a possible inappropriate relationship with a lobbyist–netted the campaign a record amount of cash for a one day period.

“All the usual liberal suspects; MoveOn.org, the Democratic National Committee, The New York Times and others are adding to the efforts under way by VoteVets and are plotting to spend over $20 million to smear John McCain. A line has been drawn in the sand,” Davis wrote. (see full email after jump)

VoteVets.org launched an ad today attacking McCain’s support for the war in Iraq and questioning his commitment to domestic needs.

McCain is at a major fundraising disadvantage compared to either of the Obama or Clinton war chests and even though outside anti-McCain groups are already on the air, campaign officials said they will be ready to respond in time.

“I am not surprised Moveon.org is going up with spots…and I am not terribly worried about it myself right now,” Senior Adviser Mark Salter said. “I am sure we will have adequate resources to respond to whoever attacks us…(but) I wouldn’t expect any national buys any time soon.”

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In an email to supporters Thursday, McCain campaign Manager Rick Davis rips the New York Times story alleging impropriety with a lobbyist as “disgusting” and “sleazy.”

Titled, “Here We Go,” the email asks potential donors for cash to fight the “liberal establishment and their allies at the New York Times.” Writes Davis, “We’ll never match the reach of a front-page New York Times article, but with your immediate help today, we’ll be able to respond and defend our nominee from the liberal attack machine.”

McCain’s fundraising lags way behind that of Democratic frontrunner Sen. Barack Obama, who out-raised him almost 3:1 in January.

THE EMAIL

Dear ###,

Well, here we go. We could expect attacks were coming; as soon as John McCain appeared to be locking up the Republican nomination, the liberal establishment and their allies at the New York Times have gone on the attack. Today’s front-page New York Times story is particularly disgusting - an un-sourced hit-and-run smear campaign designed to distract from the issues at stake in this election. With John McCain leading a number of general-election polls against Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the New York Times knew the time to attack was now, and they did. We will not allow their scurrilous attack against a great American hero to stand.

The New York Times — the newspaper that gave MoveOn.org a sweetheart deal to run advertisements attacking General Petraeus — has shown once again that it cannot exercise good journalistic judgment when it comes to dealing with a conservative Republican. We better get ready for more of the Democrats’ attacks over the coming months as the Democrats pick their nominee, MoveOn.org starts spending their unlimited soft money, and the liberal media tosses standards aside in an attempt to stop our momentum. We need your help to counteract the liberal establishment and fight back against the New York Times by making an immediate contribution today.

John McCain has a 24-year record of serving our country with honor and integrity. He has led the charge to limit the money and influence of the special interests in politics and stomp out corruption. His life and his record prove just how preposterous the smear by the New York Times really is.

Objective observers are viewing this article exactly as they should - as a sleazy smear attack from a liberal newspaper against the conservative Republican frontrunner. Sean Hannity said, after reading the article three times, “It was so full of innuendo and so lacking of fact, and so involved in smear, I came to the conclusion that the goal here was to bring up a 20-year-old scandal.” Washington attorney Bob Bennett, who was the Democrat counsel during the Keating investigation, said, “This is a real hit job.” Joe Scarborough called the allegations “outrageous.” Even pundit Alan Colmes — not known for his conservative leanings — concludes “this is a non-story.”

Yet, it is there, right on the front page of the New York Times. It is now dominating the cable news coverage. We can only expect these sorts of baseless attacks to continue as we move into the general election cycle. We are going to need your help today, and your continued help in the future to have the resources to respond. We’ll never match the reach of a front-page New York Times article, but with your immediate help today, we’ll be able to respond and defend our nominee from the liberal attack machine.

Sincerely,

Rick Davis

done

Pompano Beach, FL — Responding to more questions about the state of his campaign finances, Rudy Giuliani said Sunday that he has not contributed cash to his own presidential effort and is against using personal wealth to fund campaigns.

“I never have,” he told reporters on the press bus after a rally at his campaign office in Pompano Beach.
“I believe that the way you run for office is to raise money. You have got to raise money among people and you got to have their support in order to run.”

The campaign disclosed earlier this week that senior staffers have been asked to forgo their pay on a voluntary basis in order to save cash for their all-in effort in Florida. Giuliani said his campaign will have enough money to proceed with their Florida battle plan–since he began the new year with more than $7 million in cash on hand for the primary effort.

“We are in good shape, we really are. The reality is we have enough money to get through this,” he said. “We are going to be able to contest very strongly here in Florida. The people who (gave up pay) did that out of an excess of genorosity.”

Giuliani is not alone facing financial issues as fellow contenders Mike Huckabee, Fred Thompson and John McCain are all facing a fiscal crunch as the primary season continues into month number 12. Mitt Romney, who holds a fortune of more than $400 million dollars has already contributed more than $17 million to his effort as of the fall and has acknowledged the he contributed additional millions in late 2007, early 2008.

Rudy Giuliani National Finance Co-Chairman Roy Bailey resigned his post late last month, campaign officials confirmed today.
Bailey still advises the campaign on an ad hoc/volunteer basis but resigned from the finance post (a volunteer/unpaid position) last month due to lack of time, a senior aide tells Fox.

“In order to concentrate on private business needs, he didn’t think it was it was fair to maintain the title if he had to reduce his time commitment, for example Roy had travelled a great deal as national chair and he can no longer do that. Roy and Rudy remain close personal friends,” added the official, denying that Bailey left the post due to any disputes over fundraising or the campaign’s financial predicament.

Asked about it at an avail today, Giuliani said, “People shift around all of the time and they do different things. You’re really going to have to get in touch with the campaign I’m not in touch with all of the decisions everyday, who moves over to this, who moves over to that…I don’t think anyone’s really decided to leave — I think people have shifted responsibilities, including in this decision.”

Jim Lee, the other national finance co-chair still holds his post–which entails overseeing the network of local organizers and mapping out the long-term fundraising outlook for the campaign. Bailey’s position has not been filled as of yet.

Campaign spokeswoman Maria Comella adds that no top officials within the campaign’s fundraising operation have left the campaign during the last 2 months.

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Coral Springs, FL — Rudy Giuliani today denied he was in dire fiscal straits, saying some staffers have volunteered to go without pay to “stretch out the money” for Florida.

“Some people volunteered to do it. We didn’t ask anyone to do it. Some people volunteered to do it cause they wanted to stretch out the money,” he said. “We have quite a bit of money. They wanted to make sure that we had even more money for the end of this situation in Florida so we could have-I guess enough on the air or whatever.”

Giuliani added, “We don’t have any debt we don’t have any liabilities of any kind. We have got a good deal of money in the bank. Probably more than just about any campaign. This was an effort to try to stretch dollars even further….we are probably one of the most fiscally conservative of the campaigns–certainly on the Republican side.”

Asked whether he will have enough cash to compete in the Feb. 5 primary states, Giuliani reiterated that his campaign strategy in Florida is all-in.

“We will have some (after Jan. 29) but frankly, you know, Florida is real important to us so we are gonna put–if not everything into Florida, almost everything,” Giuliani said.

While the campaign today revealed that they have asked staffers to go without pay (on a volunteer basis) in order to conserve cash for the 1/29 Florida primary, Giuliani told the media back at a December 19 presser in Chesterfield, MO that his fundraising was going “real well.” Watch below:

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FOX’s Carl Cameron has learned that Rudy Giuliani’s cash-strapped presidential campaign has asked paid staffers to voluntarily work without pay retroactive to January 1st to save money for the Florida primary.

But the campaign is quick to point out that it is not living hand to mouth, issuing a statement this morning noting that it stil has over $12.7 million cash on hand, with over $7 million in primary dough as of December 31.

“From day one our campaign has been focused on a national strategy built around the new primary calendar. As such, we’ve budgeted conservatively and effectively targeted our resources to win under this new system. We will have the funds necessary to carry out our campaign plan and deliver the Mayor’s message in Florida and beyond,” said Giuliani Campaign Manager Michael DuHaime.

The Giuliani campaign is not alone with money woes. Among other republican candidates, senior staffers for Fred Thompson and John McCain have also been asked to work without pay over the course of the last few months.

Read More HERE

The Fred Thompson campaign has been repeatedly emailing supporters during the last week asking for cash to keep their new ad, “Substance,” on the air in Iowa. The lastest email asks for a mere $57,305….ouch.

EMAIL BELOW:

Dear #####,

I spoke with Fred this morning and informed him that we are placing the first part of our Iowa TV buy today.

But I also told him we are still about $57,305 short of our Red Truck Challenge goal.

That additional funding is critical so that we can make the rest of the buy.

Can you help us out?

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