Braun Scales Back Presidential Campaign to Chicago Office
Associated Press
Tuesday, June 17, 2003; Page A02
Carol Moseley Braun is consolidating her presidential campaign in her home town of Chicago as she struggles to raise money, but her spokesman said yesterday she is committed to staying in the Democratic primary race.
Braun, the former Illinois senator and U.S. ambassador to New Zealand, is in the midst of a drive to gain financial backing for her candidacy. She raised $72,450 in the first three months of this year, less than any of her rivals.
Presidential candidates have until the end of the month to raise money for second-quarter financial reports. Their ability to raise money to take on a popular and well-financed incumbent president is one indicator of their viability going into next year's race.
Braun's spokeswoman, Allison McLaurin, left the campaign on Sunday to work for a start-up magazine in the Washington suburbs. Braun spokesman Kevin Lampe, who is volunteering his time, said the two or three staffers closest to Braun will be concentrating on fundraising from a Chicago office until she builds a professional staff for the rest of the campaign.
Asked if Braun was getting out of the race, Lampe said, "No, with a capital 'N.' " Earlier this month, Braun said in an interview that she will decide whether to stay in the race in September.
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