Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band pulled in $115.9 million with their 47-concert tour in 2003. It was the second most lucrative concert tour ever, behind only the Rolling Stones' 1994 outing, which took in $121.2 million.
George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, touring separately and generally playing much smaller venues than Springsteen, raked in $130.8 million last year:
President Bush, with no challenger for the Republican presidential nomination, begins the 2004 election year with a record $99 million in the bank and an aggressive plan to raise millions more.
While the nine hopefuls competing for the Democratic nomination have spent much of the money they've taken in, Bush's cash-on-hand total shows he's spent a fraction of the record $130.8 million he raised last year.
Bush plans to raise $150 million to $170 million in all. He hit the fund-raising trail again this week, with events in St. Louis; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Palm Beach, Fla. There are more events to come.
"We think this is what we need to be able to build the kind of grass-roots effort we need to kind of share the president's message in a closely divided nation," campaign manager Ken Mehlman said.
Springsteen's fans didn't just give him their money — they got something in return. Quid pro quo.
What about Bush's donors? Are they really just giving out of the generosity of their hearts? Or are they expecting something in return as well?
According to these two stories — "For a Price, Writing Congress's 'To-Do' List" and "GOP leaders to solicit energy funds" — Bush's donors are expecting a hefty return on their investment in his campaign, and they're not even shy about boasting of the quid pro quo involved.
Here's Brian Faler in The Washington Post:
It's no secret that the well-heeled enjoy disproportionate access to lawmakers. But they are generally more subtle about it than were the Western Business Roundtable and U.S. Chamber of Commerce in promoting this week's Phoenix gathering involving more than a dozen members of Congress and some top administration officials.
The Roundtable advertised the three-day event as a chance for participants "to help Congress write its 'To-Do' list for next year."
And here's Faith Bremner in the Great Falls (Mont.) Tribune:
Rep. Dennis Rehberg, R-Mont., and Gov. Judy Martz are headed to Arizona this week for some fun and Republican strategizing.
A group of Western House Republicans, including Rehberg, will meet Wednesday at a plush Arizona resort to raise money from coal, mining and energy companies and listen to what they want from Congress this year. …
On Thursday, Martz will be the keynote speaker at a two-day conference at the [same resort] in which participants will create a "Top 10 To-Do List" for Congress for 2004.
It's like they don't even remember how to be ashamed anymore.
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