Well, there you have it.  First the Warning – Next the arrow, now the visible wound:

This is impressive spin but when staff take pay cuts in the middle of a campaign, it's a sign something is very wrong http://t.co/GbQMLVDref

— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) August 25, 2015

New York Times – Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign has asked various divisions to be mindful of their spending, in a reminder that despite his giant “super PAC” bankroll, campaign dollars are ultimately more valuable.

Campaign officials asked workers to tighten their belts a few weeks ago, according to two people briefed on the matter. In some cases, staff members’ paychecks shrank, these people said.

The cuts were not a result of fund-raising shortfalls, these people said, but were intended to correct needless spending before the campaign gets into the heat of the election season.

Though the super PAC backing Mr. Bush plans to engage in data analytics and activities traditionally done by the campaign itself, there are many things that only the campaign can do, including ballot access and some get-out-the-vote efforts. Even in the era of outside groups, the regulated money of campaigns is still more valuable.

Tim Miller, Mr. Bush’s communications director, acknowledged some targeted cutbacks, saying the campaign has tried to run “as lean and efficient an effort as possible with one goal: winning the Republican nomination.”

The moves come during a late-summer fund-raising period that has proved difficult for at least one Republican candidate: Rick Perry, the former governor of Texas, recently stopped paying many staff members because of dwindling campaign funds.

Mr. Bush’s spending rate was relatively low compared to his fund-raising in his first few weeks as a candidate — he didn’t officially join the race until the middle of June — and his advisers insist they will keep it low.  (read more)