The Obama campaign wanted the public to focus on his impressive army of small dollar donors -- the 1.5 million people who give $5, $10, $20 -- the day Obama dropped his pledge to ''aggressively'' seek a deal with McCain for both of them to accept public funds -- that is, if certain conditions were met. The Obama campaign did not disclose the agenda for Obama's National Finance Committee or who spoke to the group during their day in Chicago. The fact is Obama still needs massive help from people able to collect or write big checks. More than half of Obama's money, for all his talk of micro-donors, comes from check writers of $200 and up, with much generated by bundlers who use their networks of wealthy friends to raise money for Obama.

According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, 45 percent of Obama's donors give $200 or less. McCain has been far more dependent on major donors: only 24 percent of his money comes from contributors of $200 or less. Because McCain pledged to take public financing, once he is nominated formally in September at the Republican National Convention, he will not be able to spend, in the weeks leading up to the November election, more than the $84.1 million in taxpayer funds he will receive. For Obama, with his vast fund-raising ability -- from big and small contributors -- the sky is the limit.

Obama's need for big checks -- as well as Internet-fueled small donations -- is why Obama is cranking up for a major fund-raising sprint. He is hitting Los Angeles on Tuesday for a fund-raiser with Hollywood stars, and Warren Buffett headlines a $28,500-per-person event July 2 in Chicago for Obama at the home of Obama finance chair Penny Pritzker.