McCain's Coffers Swell; Palin Hires Atty

John McCain's campaign raised $47 million in the month of August, including $10 million raised since the presumptive nominee tapped Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate, the AP reports.

Because he is accepting public financing for his campaign (unlike Democrat Barack Obama), McCain can not keep any money he had left as of this week when he will receive about $84 million in public money. According to CBS News, McCain plans to give any leftover campaign money to select state parties.

Meanwhile, the AP reports that Palin has hired a private attorney to defend herself and members of her staff in an investigation into the firing of a state employee. The Alaska state legislature has appointed an independent investigator to look into complaints that Palin inappropriately used her office to remove her former brother in-law from his job as a state trooper.