Barack Obama faced two critical questions: where to play and how to pay.

To answer both, the Democrat reversed course to become the first candidate to reject $85 million in public money for the general election, a decision that will allow the record-shattering fundraiser to raise as much as he can and spend as much as he wants — and, thus, implement his strategy to expand the Electoral College playing field.

Shortly after announcing that he would rely on his vast network of private donors, Obama launched a bold new advertising campaign that signaled a desire to compete in a mix of traditional battleground states and Republican strongholds while trying to win over independents and disaffected Republicans after eight years of President Bush.
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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world. Indeed. Its the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead