In Fundraising Campaign: Obama, McCain Close

PlusIn Fundraising Campaign: Obama, McCain CloseIn Fundraising Campaign: Obama, McCain CloseThe Associated PressDemocrat Barack Obama raised $22 million in May for his presidential campaign, his weakest fundraising month this year, and ended the month with $43 million cash on hand. Rival John McCain came close to matching Obama, $21 million in May. (June 21)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] [Notes:Various file vid Obama, McCain]Barack Obama's still on top when it comes to fundraising ... But not by much.The Democratic senator collected 22-million dollars in May... His weakest fundraising month so far.But that's good news for John McCain ...who came close to matching his White House rival with 21-million-dollars in the same month.The Federal Election Commission released the numbers Friday.That's just a day after Obama announced he would become the first major party candidate to forgo public financing in the general election. [Notes:SOT Obama "We're foregoing more than eighty million dollars in public funds during the final months of this election/ It's not an easy decision especially because I support a robust system of public financing of elections."] But the decision **does** let him use leftover primary money in the general election. McCain can **not**.That's because McCain has said he **will* accept the public funds .... That'll limit the Republican to spending about 85 million dollars from September until Election Day.Since the presidential campaigns began last year ... McCain has raised less than half of Obama's impressive 287 million.Obama's got about 43 million cash on hand.That's compared with McCain's 31-point-six million dollars in the bank.The Republican also has about one million dollars **more** in debt. ___ ___, The Associated Press.(****END****)

YouTube | June 21, 2008

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