Barack Obama's spending far exceeds John McCain's and shows states he covets

Barack Obama bought $65 million worth of airtime last month, almost three times as much as John McCain, and shifted $7.6 million to Democratic parties in swing states to organize his campaign efforts.

Obama’s $65.5 million for airtime dwarfed the $22.5 million that McCain spent, according to disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission. The media firm, GMMB, received the bulk of the money, $63.5 million, to buy airtime.

McCain benefited from spending by the Republican National Committee.

Obama raised a record $150.7 million in September, spent $87.5 million, and entered October with $133 million in the bank -- compared to McCain’s $47 million in the bank at the start of the month.

Obama’s receipts included $118 million raised directly into his campaign account, and $32.5 million from a joint fundraising committee he established with the Democratic National Committee that draw tens of millions in five-figure donations.

Obama’s spending on state parties shows the breadth of his campaign. The Democrat gave $1.7 million to the Florida Democratic Party, and $1.01 million to the party in Ohio. George W. Bush carried both states twice, capturing their combined 47 electoral votes.

Obama gave $821,000 to Michigan where McCain hoped to compete but abandoned earlier this month, and $601,000 in Wisconsin, where Republicans are on the retreat.

The spending also is underscoring Obama’s effort to capture states that virtually no expert predicted would be in play: $253,000 to Montana, with a mere three electoral votes, $257,000 in Indiana, with 11 electoral votes, $391,000 in Virginia.

More of the same is going on this month. After giving $10,000 to the West Virginia Democratic Party last month, Obama started airing television ads in the state that long has voted Republican.

-- Dan Morain

Comments

[Pete from St. Pete (Russia, that is)]

So Obama is spending boatloads of cash on his campaign. What a surprise. Wait until he gets into the White House and starts throwing money around on socialist programs. The Kremlin used to call it socialism too. He is not trying to win an election; he's trying to buy one. I wonder what all those rich friends of Obama in the California entertainment industry think of a guy who is going to supposedly tax the living daylights out of them. And I wonder how he plans to generate jobs when he plans to tax corporations and companies that provide those jobs. Let's see how he can tax them when they take their business overseas. Bright guy, that Obama.

[lisa mcneal]

It is amazing the lenghts a person would go to in order to sway another. You are absolutely correct, when you said "so what". So what if he has this substantial amount of money applied to his campaign. Common sense people, the other guy's losing. And if Mccain had the money that Obama has (due to his loyal and dedicated voters), he still would be losing. The only thing this proves, is as we all already know...He knows how to balance the monies given, And we trust him. Sorry this hurts, but America trusts Obama.

[June]

Barack Obama should take his tax plan and his so called brilliant mind to a third world country, instead of trying to turn this country into a third world. There are toooooooo many radicals like Jeremiah Wright connected to him. He knows he's not equipped mentally to handle the job of president, so, he use acorn and large sums of money to try to buy the presidency. Biden said there will be a major crisis if Obama becomes president, that should give people much concern about our safety.

[A concerned Voter]

Obama does just what every other con artist do to suck people in, to get people to like him. He smiles, he talks strong and soft, he makes promises, he pretends he never hang with shady people and he make you think he's all good and that he cares about your well being. This is how he gets close enough to you to get what he wants. Obama lies and changes his story so often I don't know the real Obama. But, I do know he's a fraud, a smooth talker, hidden behind a mask, he should not be trusted. I have seen people like him face to face. It will be sad for this country if he manages to buy this election.

[It's about the math.]

If McCain is not spending as much as Obama, it means one of two things.
Either:
1). John McCain does not want to win the election as much as Barak Obama and he is stashing some of the money away.
or:
2). More people have given more money to Obama because there are more people who want Obama as president.

[Levi Cro]

Its sad to see the trash talking going on... smears, lies and just plaing fear mongering..... This is not how we solve problems.... you cant use lies, slander, fear and smears to elect a candidate and expect ot to lead to anything but trouble.... McCain has run this campaign as if he intended to loose it all along.... picking a VP who is NOT ready showed poor judgement... not being able to fight with issues and resorting to lies was a HUGE mistake in THIS election... this time America wanted substance.... and McCain doesnt have any.... the only way he can win now is by rigging the election.. if he does that he will loose the country...

[Average American]

"Barack Obama's spending far exceeds John McCain's"

That says it all.

Spend, Spend, Spend... This is not the solution, it is the problem.

McCain/Palin '08

[ConcernedGuy]

Man some folk go to great lengths to great lengts to try an convice themselves about the lies they so deperately want to believe. Both Obama and McCain have websites where any can go in and donate to the campaign. Obama raised a lot more money because he has alot more grassroot support. Most of McCain's money comes from a few rich companies and lobbiest but there is only so much one can raise that way. Almost every second person I know has contributed to Obama camp, not a single on to McCain so guess Obama has more money, people who gave him the money intended it to be spent on his campaing, that's exactly what he is doing.

[Alicia G]

Obama will have spent almost $600 million by the time this campain is over, thats getting pretty close to a billion. What do you think he will do if he gets in the white house? He is nothing but a socialist. Wealth distrubution doesn't work. People need to earn a living. What makes America great is the opportunities to start a business and grow. When he comes in and taxes companies so much they take their jobs elsewhere, will everyone be so gleeful about Obama? I think not! There does need to be change and that includes less government.

[Grant]

Someone really wants Osama..errrr I mean Obama in power. I wonder who it might be? I don't think it's the American people though.

Someone needs to uncover the true source of his campaign financing. Don't tell me that he's invented some new way of doing "grass roots" fund raising. Give me a break! My guess is that his pockets are being filled by roots that start outside our national boundaries. Vote NO BAMA!!!

[Sanomiya1157]

If elected, Obama will help the poor and the middle class... right after he repays his campaign contributors. Obama raised more money than anyone in the history of the U.S. Bill turned the White House into a hotel to raise money, wonder what Barack will do if elected.

Obama will also do a better job protecting us with better foreign policy... he is endorsed by Russia under Vladimir Putin.

[Alex]

I know this is really old, but I hope people like me look back and see what the papers wrote about, and I also hope they see what other people commented about also. President Obama has been in the White House for sometime now, and look at what people said he would be doing with the Governments money. It all has happened, and for those who backed him I would like to see what they have to say now.