SATURDAY ROUNDUP

Barack Obama announced an impressive haul in July, bringing in $51 million, but some bloggers question whether it will be enough heading into the general. Liberals are not sure why the Obama campaign would tell former Gen. Wesley Clark there’s “no reason” for him to come to the Democratic Convention and some conservatives are declaring political victory after Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Democrats will agree to allowing some offshore drilling.

Despite raising $51 million in July, the combined total for Obama and Democratic National Committee slightly trails that of John McCain and the Republican National Committee, indicating the Democrats may be in trouble once McCain gets his $84 million in public funds, writes MyDD’s Josh Orton. Marc Ambinder agrees that Obama may be in trouble, but is believes that once the general election fundraising period begins the Obama camp will be able to make up ground by going back to maxed out donors.

The Obama campaign choosing to not include Clark in the convention is a mistake given his national security credentials and support among progressives, The Huffington Post’s Steve Clemons writes. Not only was he not included, he was disinvited, which begs the questions why, asks Open Left’s Matt Stoeller.

And Pelosi is playing right into Republicans’ hands by opening up more and more on drilling, RedState’s Pejman Yousefzadeh writes. The conservative blogger credits the House GOP protests for moving Pelosi’s position.

FROM THE BLOGS:
What Did Clark Do? – The Huffington Post
Squeezing More Political Oil from the Rock – RedState
Obama’s $51 Million – The Trail
Hillary for Veep or Obama Head Fake? – The Next Right
Candidates Prep for Faith Forum – The Caucus
Questions Rick Warren Won’t Ask – Crooks & Liars
Four Star NATO Commanders Don’t Grow on Trees – Open Left
Let’s Drill the Gang of 10 –