Obama Outspent McCain In July

Democrat Spent $55M, McCain $32M Last Month; Most Of The Money Went To Advertising

(AP)  After tightening his expenditures in June, Barack Obama spent far more freely in July, cutting into his cash reserves while mounting an advertising campaign against Republican presidential rival John McCain.

The Illinois Democrat raised more than $50 million in July, a slight dip from the previous month, according to his monthly financial report, filed around midnight Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission. He spent about $55 million, with three-fifths of that devoted to media costs.

McCain had his best fundraising month yet, collecting more than $26 million. He, too, spent heavily - a total of $32 million, of which two-thirds was on advertising.

The documents illustrate the intensity of the contest, even at the height of summer.

The two candidates spent aggressively on advertising. McCain targeted about 11 traditional battleground states and Obama ran ads in 18 states, expanding his sights to states that have voted Republican in the past. But while Obama outspent McCain, polls show the race neck-and-neck, with McCain even closing the gap nationally and in some states.

When it comes to money, though, Obama and McCain face significantly different tasks.

McCain has agreed to accept $84 million in a federal campaign grant for September and October. That means he must spend all the money in the campaign's account by the end of the Republican National Convention in early September or donate the balance to the Republican National Committee. He ended July with more than $21 million in the bank.

Obama, however, has decided to bypass the public funds in anticipation of raising far more money on his own. As a result, he must build up his cash reserves. He reported $66 million in hand at month's end.

Obama might have fared better financially, but had to curtail his July fundraising to embark on a week of travel through the Middle East and Europe.

He also has been building a formidable ground game against McCain. He has a payroll of $2.2 million a month compared with McCain's $925,000, and has opened scores of field offices, outnumbering McCain's staff presence in key battleground states.

Obama no doubt will see a dramatic surge in contributions this month, centered on the Democratic national convention next week and his acceptance speech spectacle on Thursday at Invesco Field in Denver. But he will probably also have to continue fundraising in September and into October, while McCain is free to campaign with his own federal funds.

Both candidates benefited from new fundraising partnerships with their respective national parties. Of McCain's total amount raised, $5.6 million came from contributions made to a joint victory fund set up with the RNC. Obama reported getting $12.5 million of his total from victory committees connected to the Democratic National Committee.

McCain showed a debt of $2 million; Obama had debts of nearly $1 million.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who suspended her race for the Democratic nomination in June, reported a slight reduction in her massive campaign debt, cutting it from $25.2 million at the end of June to $23.9 million at the end of July. Clinton, who lent her campaign more than $13 million, has been struggling to raise money to pay off her vendors. She reported raising $2.5 million in July.

McCain, meanwhile, is counting on a vote Thursday from the FEC to permit his withdrawal from the public matching fund system for the presidential primaries. Candidates can receive taxpayer money in the primaries based on the number of small contributions they have raised. Accepting the money limits a campaign's spending.

McCain had qualified for such funds, but decided not to accept them because he wanted to spend above the limits. Then-FEC Chairman David Mason informed McCain that he needed a vote of the FEC before withdrawing, but at the time the commission lacked a quorum to act. It is now at full strength.

The commission's staff has recommended that it approve McCain's withdrawal from the system.

The Democratic National Committee has objected. It asked the FEC to postpone the vote until the commission investigates a complaint the Democratic Party filed in February accusing McCain of violating public finance laws in connection with the matching funds.

In the letter, DNC general counsel Joseph Sandler said the FEC cannot vote to let McCain withdraw from the primary public funds program because McCain never requested that he be allowed to pull out.

The FEC is made up of three Democrats and three Republicans. It takes four votes to approve commission business.

[omega39-2009]

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who suspended her race for the Democratic nomination in June, reported a slight reduction in her massive campaign debt, cutting it from $25.2 million at the end of June to $23.9 million at the end of July.

LOL! When are those 18 Million Clinton supporters going to quit shooting their mouths off about Obama and step up to the plate to help their girl?

[omega39-2009]

If 18 million Clinton supporters each sent her a check for $1.33, we could put Hillary on the road to financial health.

[mbcsmith]

Nobama outspent McCain and still fell in the polls. Keep it up Nobama, the more we get to know you, the more people don''t like you and the more we realize it''s just more of the same old politics.

[wellhell3]

Obama Outspent McCain In July
Democrat Spent $55M, McCain $32M Last Month; Most Of The Money Went To Advertising

What, no free rock concerts? Well I''ll swun!

[omega39-2009]

What, no free rock concerts? Well I''''ll swun!

Posted by WellHell3

Shouldn''t you be sending $1.33 to Hillary?

[wellhell3]

What, no free rock concerts? Well I''''''''ll swun!

Posted by WellHell3

Shouldn''''t you be sending $1.33 to Hillary?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by omega39 at 09:24 AM : Aug 21, 2008

I''ve been sending every week since last August. Get your pocket book out and put your money where your mouth is...pinko.

[omega39-2009]

I''''ve been sending every week since last August. Get your pocket book out and put your money where your mouth is...pinko.

Posted by WellHell3

And send $1.33 to Hillary, why would I do that? Considering the size of Hillary''s debt, and the fact that she has raised virtually nothing to pay it off, one has to wonder how many of those 18 million were operation chaos voters being instigated by Limbaugh.

[realpatriot1]

I love the slant of these CBS articles. Both candidates spent more than they raised in July and thus cut marginally into their cash on hand.

Obama spent more but also raised more and has significantly more cash on hand. Why not say that both candidates spent more last month?

[max0010]

Of course Obama outspends McCain on advertising because the ONLY way to convince the public is by advertising and his teleprompters speeches. Good thing that there are only 2 debates left in the fall and I would not be surprised if they are cancelled. Obama is "hype". He says "%u201Cthey have not been telling the truth and I hate to say that people are lying, but here''s a situation where folks are lying%u201D---only to find out from his own campaign that he was the lair. Yet, it''s okay with his fans? Yep, the French are right "the magic in America is gone".

[realpatriot1]

gop_forever,

A Republican talking about fiscal responsibility...now that''s funny! LOL!!!

[realpatriot1]

ddinnyc,

Let''s talk about the fact that when asked how many mansions he owned non-elitist John Mcslime didn''t know the answer.

[realpatriot1]

max0010,

There''s 3 debates in the fall.

[omega39-2009]

ddinnyc,

Let''''s talk about the fact that when asked how many mansions he owned non-elitist John Mcslime didn''''t know the answer.

Posted by realpatriot1

So many in fact that he can''t remember when property taxes are due on them.

[stn_sage]

While money is IMPORTANT, it''s NOT ultimately what will win the contest. ''CONS campaign dirty, they probably always have---but, McCain isn''t going to run a clean campaign, THAT''S wishful thinking! If Obama believes that, he''ll lose!

My advice is attack, attack, attack! McCain is such a flawed candidate, he doesn''t belong anywhere NEAR the White House! The public needs to see, hear, and know what a lesser candidate McCain truly is!

I''d run ads exposing him on all levels if I was running against him! This country will just barely survive Bush''s term, it won''t survive a McCain term,
which amounts to a Bush third term!

[ragnar30066]

Obamatoids, the fact that McCain married money is a non-starter. So did John Kerry, your last candidate for president. At least McCain''s wife is a very successful businesswoman, not an arrogant and elitist heiress, whose only claim to be a member of an elite is DNA passed in the middle of the night by her grandfather.

Now let''s get back to how Obama without his teleprompter is kind of like half the Laurel and Hardy comedy group. He even looks kind of like Stan Laurel, with jumbo ears.

[micma-2009]

The neocons couldn''t be elected to dog catcher if they didn''t cheat and lie. That''s because what they are fundamentaly asking is for Americans to vote against their own interests.

Trickle down economics and staying the failed course in Iraq is not going to bring America back to the prosperity we knew before these morons took over. It''s going to bring us more of the McSame.

It''s time for CHANGE.

Obama 08!

[micma-2009]

ragnar30066


So how many mansions does non-illetist John McSame own?

[dnsallday]

Obamatoids, the fact that McCain married money is a non-starter. So did John Kerry, your last candidate for president.

Posted by ragnar30066
********************************************************
There is one significant difference. John Kerry met his current wife a couple of years after he was divorced from his first wife.

John McCain met his current wife and shacked up with her while lying about his marital status.
Not to worry though, Ross Perot picked up the medical bills for McCain''s former wife and other friends have reported how they helped her out financially after she was blindsided when McCain dumped her.

So to you it may indeed be a non starter, but to many of us, truth and integrity are important values for ourselves, as well in the candidates we choose to support.

[nolalou]

Let''''s talk about the plot of land next door to Obama''''s mansion that he bought at an unbelievable discounted price from TONY REZKO, who is an indicted career criminal.
Let''s talk about that for a minute.
Posted by ddhinnyc

No, let''s not. That story has been out for months, and there has been nothing to indicate Obama did anything illegal! Lets talk about things that DO matter, who will be better for our economy, for example! Respected Princeton economist Larry M Bartels has just written a book on the economy, and shown that the middle class did much better over the last 6 decades under Democratic Administrations than under Republican ones. Republican presidents have succeeded in increasing the divide between the wealthy and the working middle class! Lets talk about that! Lets talk about the myth that Republicans are more fiscally responsible, when this administration has got us billions in debt, mainly to communist China, lets talk about that!

Wherever Rezko did will not effect me, but the economic policies of the next President will! Let''s talk about WHAT MATTERS, not all the B.S. some of you prefer to talk about!

[dnsallday]

Barack Obama spent far more freely in July, cutting into his cash reserves - - - - -


Spending Freely and Cutting into Cash Reserves?
Sounds like Presidential material to me!

Posted by DaVicar2 at 10:06 AM : Aug 21, 2008
**********************************************************
Sounds like investing wisely and using cash that had been conserved and planned for this purpose.

You sound like you prefer a candidate who borrows what they don''t have and spends without a plan.

Is there some reason you enjoy the wrecking ball that has been slamming against our country so much that you want to see it continue?

[ichabod57]

Is there anybody in the entire country that really cares how much these two idiots spend? Why doesn''t the government just put a price on the office of president and let people bid for it?

[micma-2009]

And, it makes me feel like I am back on the playgound in Kindergarten!

Posted by DaVicar2 at 10:09 AM : Aug 21, 2008
+ report abuse



That''s probably exactly where you belong.

lol!

[zorar-2009]

Wake up America..McCain doen''t know how many homes he owns! & yu want this guy leading the US!

Get the Geritol out for Grand Pa McSame asleep at the wheel...
who needs an old f@rt running this country ...he lives in the past!

[questionnews]

Obama would win the next election if he would just hide in cave until Nov. The more he, his "friends" & supporters talk, the lower his ratings get. Be quiet, lay low & don''t talk. That will ensure a Dem. win!

[micma-2009]

John McSame has lost count of how many mansions he owns. Probably because he spends so much time worrying about struggling working class Americans. So much so that he''s decided to cut taxes on the rich yet again so that we can get more of this great trickle down effect. If, when the trickle reaches you, it looks and smells like urine, that''s because it is.

Thank u for voting Republican.

lol!

[gop_forever]

Wake up America..McCain doen''''t know how many homes he owns! & yu want this guy leading the US!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Posted by zorar
====================
Lots of Americans dont know how many homes they own! It doesnt make them less patriotic.

[omega39-2009]

So how many mansions does non-illetist John McSame own? ----------------------------------------
-------------- Posted by micma


Every time you guys call him a funny name it makes me want to vote for that other guy...

And, it makes me feel like I am back on the playgound in Kindergarten!

Posted by DaVicar2

Really?? Did you feel the same with the 3rd grade antics of the Republicans and their name calling (Bore, Skerry, Billary, Obscamma)?

[micma-2009]

Yeah, that Democratically Led Congress is one knee-slapper, huh?

Posted by DaVicar2 at 10:21 AM : Aug 21, 2008





Reality check:


CONGRESS

"Let''s just go over the numbers one more time:

Senate:
49 republicans
49 democrats
2 independents (one is lieberman - republican)
tiebreaking vote: republican vice president.

House:
200 Republicans
235 Democrats
288 amount of votes needed for republican presidential veto override.

Whose in control of the congress?

[zorar-2009]

Lots of Americans dont know how many homes they own! It doesnt make them less patriotic.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by GOp_FOreVEr at 10:25 AM : Aug 21, 2008

What are you nuts? name one besides McDumb

[micma-2009]

John McSame has lost count of how many mansions he owns.

Probably because he spends so much time worrying about struggling working class Americans.

So much so that he''s decided to cut taxes on the rich yet again so that we can get more of this great trickle down effect.

If, when the trickle reaches you, it looks and smells like urine, that''s because it is.

Thank u for voting Republican.

lol!

[gop_fornever]

I just gave $10,000 to the Democratic National Commitee and $10,000 to MoveOn.org.

Democratice control of the White House, Senat and House come election day. Poor republicans will have the lights turned out on them again.

[cold777]

Yeah, that Democratically Led Congress is one knee-slapper, huh?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by DaVicar2 at 10:21 AM
======================================================
Yes, cleaning up after the Republicans is a tough job.....kind of like cleaning up after a farm of animals with daily upset stomaches.....you never win.

[whyafghan]

With serious issues on the table - Micma is so jealous of McCain''s mansions that he fixates on this issue. What a shame and pathetic mentality.

[zorar-2009]

Wake up America..McCain doesn''t know how many homes he owns! & you want this guy leading the US!
o
Get the Geritol out for Grand Pa McSame ...asleep at the wheel...
who needs an old f@rt running this country ...he lives in the past!
What family or sane human being would want this guy at the wheel driving acrooss this country knodding at every turn in the road?
Let''s be honest the only reason most people want to see this old white man elected is because he''s not black period!

[questionnews]

If McCain loses the result will be just as the Dems & most of America predicted.

If Obama loses the result will be utter devastation for the Dems.

[micma-2009]

With serious issues on the table - Micma is so jealous of McCain''''s mansions that he fixates on this issue. What a shame and pathetic mentality.

Posted by WhyAfghan at 10:34 AM : Aug 21, 2008
+ report abuse


lol!


When we try to talk about real issues, you neocons just run away. All you have to offer is smear and fear. Of course, if I was like you and trying to get Americans to vote, yet again, against their own interests, I''d have to stoop to that level too.

How do you feel about trickle down economics?


Hello?

You there?

Crickets.......


lol!

[cold777]

OMG! MCCAIN DOESN''T KNOW HOW MANY HOUSES HE OWNS?

[whyafghan]

Poor republicans will have the lights turned out on them again.

LMAO. Yes that Democratic Elected Congress in 2006 has really proven your point of CHANGE. If this is the Change offered by Obama - then I vote for the Republican candidate and soon to be President John McCain

[cold777]

Poor republicans will have the lights turned out on them again.

LMAO. Yes that Democratic Elected Congress in 2006 has really proven your point of CHANGE. If this is the Change offered by Obama - then I vote for the Republican candidate and soon to be President John McCain


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by WhyAfghan at 10:39 AM
======================================================
Laugh all you want.....the funny thing is that in November the DEMS WILL EXTEND THEIR POWER IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS!

[whyafghan]

If micma had any real concerns then they woul;d be voiced. Continue your fixation on mansions? LMAO. Children will play.

[zorar-2009]

The truth of the matter is the republicans could nominate "Howdy Doody" & he''d win becuase the gop know the bottom line... people want a white guy no matter who the heck he is!

[whyafghan]

You are exactly right cold777 - the more the reason to have a Republican President to get the lazy democrats working for once. Excellent Point

[cold777]

John Mccain cannot remember that he has ten mansions.....

[jgg000]

Obama blew most of his money on Michelle''s makeover

[screan_name]

John Mccain cannot remember that he has ten mansions.....

Posted by cold777 at 10:42 AM : Aug 21, 2008
+ report abuse


That''s because he spends so much time thinking about how he can continue to screw the middle class with his trickle down economics.

More tax breaks for the super wealthy anyone?

lol!

[screan_name]

Posted by WhyAfghan at 10:42 AM : Aug 21, 2008
+ report abuse


How many mansions did you say "non-illetist", man of the people, John McCain owns?

[wardoglrs]

The voters ounce again blame the very thing they voted for. If you want true freedom & Real Liberty and put an end to the misuse of tax payer''s dollars then you need to understand economics and 90% of the voters do not understand what & how there government spends. Look to Dr Paul''s writings and wake the hell up

[screan_name]

Good news America! John McCain feels your pain. He sees millions of you losing your houses and becoming homeless and he''s very concerned. So much so that he''s planning on giving even more tax cuts to the super wealthy. It''s bound to "trickle down" to you eventually.

Thanks for voting Republican.

lol!

[whyafghan]

How many mansions did you say "non-illetist", man of the people, John McCain owns?
-------------
Posted by Screan_name

LMAO, nice spelling. But I believe you still own one more single-wide trailer than McCain does. Your jealousy is obvious, but that is expected from someone who believes the government is supposed to take care of individuals. Advice - get a job and stop fixating on the government handouts.

[screan_name]

How many mansions did you say "non-illetist", man of the people, John McCain owns?
-------------
Posted by Screan_name

LMAO, nice spelling. But I believe you still own one more single-wide trailer than McCain does. Your jealousy is obvious, but that is expected from someone who believes the government is supposed to take care of individuals. Advice - get a job and stop fixating on the government handouts.

Posted by WhyAfghan at 11:35 AM : Aug 21, 2008
+ report abuse



Thanks for the spell-check. I''ll return the favor with a little reality check.

What I believe is this, a Democratic government serves the people''s interests not the corporate interests or the interests of the wealthy elite. What we''ve had under Republican "trickle down" economics is a government that robs from the working class and gives trillions in "handouts" to the rich all the while running huge deficits.


How many mansions did you say non-elitist John McSame owns? Is it as many as the Bush family?