State of the Union speech sparks partisan fundraising pitches

Introduction

President Barack Obama’s new nonprofit advocacy group, Organizing for Action, is using tonight’s State of the Union address as a fundraising opportunity. The group is emailing supporters asking them to register for a “special online call” following the speech before a joint session of Congress.

Upon registering your name, email address and ZIP code, you are immediately directed to an online form soliciting a donation to the organization, which describes its overarching mission as “achieving enactment of the national agenda Americans voted for on Election Day 2012.”

The Democratic National Committee also blasted out an email this evening inviting supporters to watch the State of the Union address on its website.

Immediately after Executive Director Patrick Gaspard’s signature? A large, red button with white letters reading “DONATE.”

The GOP fundraising machine, meanwhile, is hardly idle.

Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Jeff Larson tonight emailed supporters with graphics depicting national economic conditions.

“Take a look at the real state of the union below and contribute today,” he wrote, with the words “contribute today” linked to an online donation form.

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Ky., chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, predicted that Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., would deliver a State of the Union rebuttal speech that would “articulate our message of opportunity, growth and security for every American.”

Then Moran made his political fundraising pitch: “That is why I hope you will help add to this momentum for 2014 by giving one special donation of $25, $50 or $100 to the NRSC so we can elect more Republican Senators. Your gift will help us recruit strong candidates for the 2014 elections.”