Obama fundraising PAC pretty much off to the start you’d expect

(By Ed Morrissey, Hot Air) - After the 'Citizens United' ruling in 2009, Barack Obama decided that two can play at that game. For his 2012 re-election effort, Obama sent spokesman Bill Burton out of the White House to start two 501(c)4 groups, Priorities USA and Priorities USA Action, to raise funds for outside-group support of his re-election bid, which aimed at raising $100 million for the effort. So how’s that going?

Apparently, two 'can’t' play at that game:

Many of the Democratic Party’s biggest donors aren’t planning to support his organization, either because they’re unhappy with Mr. Obama or disillusioned with politics in general. There’s also this fund-raising fact of life: Wealthy donors are more likely to open up their wallets to defeat a sitting president than to protect one.

Mr. Burton’s group has spent less than $1 million on advertisements this year, while the leading pro-Republican organization has spent more than $20 million. …

Arthur Lipson, owner of hedge-fund management firm Western Investment, has donated more than $500,000 to Democratic causes in the past decade, according to public records. He hasn’t heard from Mr. Burton, but an outreach probably wouldn’t be worth the effort. “I will definitely not donate to Obama in any way, shape or form,” said Mr. Lipson, who objects to deals the president has made with Republicans.

The Burton group’s struggles have caught the attention of Obama re-election campaign officials, who privately say they aren’t counting on its support.