Barack Obama's latest campaign disclosure is more bad news for John McCain

Barack Obama disclosed today that he raised $36 million in the first 15 days of October, after amassing a jaw-dropping $150 million in September.

Obama’s September-October surge all but guarantees that he will continue to outspend John McCain and the Republican National Committee in the closing days of the 2008 presidential campaign.

Obama had $65.7 million in the bank for the final three weeks of the campaign. That's in addition to a combined $30 million in the accounts of the Democratic National Committee and a separate committee that Obama and the DNC control.

McCain and the RNC entered the final three weeks of the campaign with a combined $84.4 million in the bank. The RNC raised $27 million in the first 15 days of the month.

The latest fundraising number provides further evidence that Obama made the correct decision when he opted against taking federal funds for the general election campaign. He is relying on his ever-growing donor base of more than 3 million individuals.

McCain, by contrast, took the federal grant of $84.1 million. That money must last from the beginning of September through Nov. 4.

McCain also depends on the Republican National Committee to raise money. Even though it raised what for it was a record $66 million in September, the GOP is failing to keep pace with its Democratic rivals.

Obama and the DNC are poised to outspend McCain by as much as 3 to 2, the nonpartisan Campaign Finance Institute concluded.

Obama and the Democratic National Committee spent $134.1 million in September, far more than the $108.6 million spent by McCain and the RNC.

In the first 15 days of October, Obama and the DNC spent a combined $117.6 million, compared with $67 million spent by McCain and the Republican National Committee.

--Dan Morain

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Photo credit: EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Mike]

As I recall they both agreed to use public money, McCain kept his work and got Punked by Obama for it.

Are we next?

[VJ Machiavelli]

Big Brother Obama is ranking in the money. It seems he is already sharing the wealth with the "MEDIA". Now we know why the love him.

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com

[Bonda]

Studies have shown that donating money to a campaign is far more effective than voting.

Voting is for poor people. They are able to have a say without spending money.

I'm donating to a campaign, but I'm not voting.

[C.Lozano]

Isn't it interesting how the MSM loves to focus on how much money each candidate has to spend, instead of on the fact that McCain kept his financing pledge to limit himself to $84 million, while Obama shows the true spending nature of the Democrats! Our national housing crisis and Wall Street bailout rescue plan totals about $700 million, and Obama has easily gotten $600 million to spend on campaign! He and his donors could have helped bail out Wall Street and save people's homes from foreclosure with that kind of money. It's obscene. It also leads questioning minds to wonder just how much has been coming from overseas and from which countries and which individuals. And since when is spending money as fast as you can an admirable trait? Obama is revealing some interesting things about himself and being true to Democrat form. McCain has shown financial responsibility and spending restraint. I tend to believe he'd work to have a Congress that would do the same. His words and his actions are congruent. Pity the same cannot be said for Obama.

And if Obama seriously thought that by getting Colin Powell to publicly endorse him that he'd get an automatic 'thumbs up' vote from Conservatives and Republicans across the board, he was sorely mistaken. I make the distinction between both men. Powell is Powell, and Obama is Obama. The two men are NOT interchangeable. Speaking for myself, it was a nice try, but no cigar, Obama. You can link yourself to as many powerful and wealthy people as possible, but none of that impresses me nor will it 'buy' my vote. It's a sad day indeed when $600 million is the price tag for buying oneself a presidency and an all-access card into the White House.

People can label me whatever they want. If the price for questioning your lack of experience, lack of honor in knocking Alice Palmer off the ballot in 1996, lack of full disclosure to the public about the true nature of your connections to Rezko, Reverend Wright and Ayers, along with the fact that it was old school politics and the Chicago Political Machine which got you where you are today is that I will be labeled a racist, then so be it. I know who and what I am, and what I'm not. Skin color doesn't determine my vote. Experience and some degree of strength of character, along with some degree of honesty about ones past, means more to me than good looks, charisma, verbal eloquence and a good speaking voice. You're a smooth politician through and through,Senator Obama. I firmly believe you will place your own personal ambition before the needs of this country, and you'll talk your way - and spend your way - right into the White House. I'm being proven right day after day.

Welcome to the USSA: The United Socialist States of America. Perhaps if you use your charm, speaking skills and desire to be universally popular, your negotiations with potential terrorists around the world, executed without preconditions, will spare us another September 11th. Please try not to sacrifice too many of our Constitutional rights or Bill of Rights in order to appease our world neighbors.

My personal view is that if the rest of the world doesn't care for how we in America live, our values, our religious and political beliefs - in all their colorful and radiant glory - then tough you-know-what. I don't see any other countries around the world asking us Americans how we'd like them to live, or whom we'd like them to elect. My guess is that they really want YOU because they've got their own special interests and hidden agendas, and you're just the kind of inexperienced yet highly ambitious politician who'll play right into their hands. Since they've probably already contributed mightily to your campaign, your presidency is basically bought and paid for - in more ways than one.

Thank you for your time.

[William P. (Bill) Zimmerman]

I sincerely hope that Barak's Grandmother is doing well. I lost my Grandmother about 2 years ago. My situation was much like Barak's in that My Grandmother, and her sisters, did much of the child raising where I was concerned. I loved My Granadmother very much as I am sure Barak Loved his.

[Alessandro Machi]

You make it sound like Barack wins because he has more money coming in, is that change?

what concerns me is 3million people donating is not that many people. That represents around 5 to 6 percent of all democrats, or an even smaller portion of all voters.

Clearly this is the year of the electronic donation and this poses new problems for future elections. I would recommend only debit card donations be made, and some type of registration needs to be set up to prove it's one person, one set of donations.

http://www.HILLARY-WINS.com
http://www.CAUCUSCHEATING.com
http://www.FAIR-REFLECTION.com

[Ryan James Jenkins]

arrogants does not win elections polls do not win elections and money most definetly does not win elections the person with the best ideas and common sense of common americans wins elections and John McCain has that and will resinate on the one poll that does matter November 4th voting day thankyou and Obama can go swin in that pool of money of people I guess are struggling according to him that they have enough money to give him like if he was the freaking pope or something no I am sure it's comming from such people like Hamas

[When Elephants Fly]

Personally, I can't imagine why anyone would still want to donate to the McCain campaign. So they can spend another $150,000 on designer clothes for Sarah Palin? What a farce ! Thanks, but no thanks. Comments welcome: http://whenelephantsfly.blogspot.com

[Alabama Pete]

America will not except a black president. Wake up people. Listen to Shawn hannity

[OTTOABASI ABASIEKONG]

Barack Obama is doing very well in his campaign,i wish him the best on November 4.I have written a 21-page article on 'The concept of change",The Obama Philosophy.How can i post it to you.

[mike kuntz]

It is a shame the Obama hasn't chosen to "share the wealth" with some of his political contributions- several hundred million would go a long way to help all the people that he claims to be concerned about.
mike

[Mark O]

It's interesting to hear Republicans whining about how unfair it is that Obama is raising so much money and outspending his opponent. Boo hoo. For years, the GOP has had the money advantage (from all those rich plumbers supporting the party I suppose), and they've used it to buy election after election. But now the boot is on the other foot, and they don't like it. And all they can do is whine.

The great thing, though, is that Obama is raising the money from ordinary folk, with the average donation being less than $100. Now that's what I call democracy in action.

[ObamaBiden2008]

You guys have lost it. Is this story linked to Drudge Report? I guess that would explain all the pissed off Republicans on this board. And, if your a Hillary voter, voting for McCain- you're not a real Hillary supporter and your not realy a Democrat- that's fine though, their are two candidates, but don't lie about Obama.

First off- the bailout package was 600 BILLION, not 600 million- there is a big difference.

Secondly, where were your complaints about all the money and spending going on in politics the past 50 years when the GOP routinely outspent Dems by large margins?

Funny how no one sees this double standard. Just vote for McCain and Sarah Palin if that's really who you think we need right now. But don't discount us 3 million donors- and don't discount the movement of this campaign. We've had 8 years of Republicans running the show (and 2 of the last years of Bush vetoing Congress at every turn- why why they are the "Do Nothing" Congress?).

Enough of the negativity though- I realize you are frustrated, but don't bash Obama supporters- just admit he's run a much better campaign so far. It ain't over until it's over.

8 is enough.

Vote for Obama/Biden '08

The choice could not be more clear.

[Matt]

To the reader who compared Mr. Obama's 600 million dollar spending to the "700 Million dollars [wall street bail out and housing crises]" your perspective is off by a large magnitude. The bail out is a THOUSAND times more expensive than that, at 700 Billion, and no one thinks that's enough...

To suggest that Mr. Obama might have used that money to bail out wall street is drastically incorrect. It's true that he's spent a lot of money on ads; all presidents spend as much as they possibly can. In fact, McCain and the RNC are desperately trying to raise enough money to match Mr. Obama's budget--it's not by good morals that they've fallen short in spending.

That you have your own reasons not to vote for Mr Obama is your own business and right, but your financial critisism is weak.

[Dan St. Paul]

Obama has raised so much money because a majority of the public is passionate about him being elected. It's like betting on a horse. Barack is young, eloquent, charismatic and represents a chance to bring America back to a prosperous nation. McCain looks like a tired old nag.

[Cal Amity]

O My God, there are some stupid people on this page. Obama funded by Hamas? Big brother Obama? half of these republican nut jobs can't even spell.

[Susan]

QUOTE C.Lozano
Our national housing crisis and Wall Street bailout rescue plan totals about $700 million, and Obama has easily gotten $600 million to spend on campaign! He and his donors could have helped bail out Wall Street and save people's homes from foreclosure with that kind of money.

700 Million is pocket change! The bail out was 700 BILLION, perhaps you should be a bit more concerned about "little" details before you go blasting Obama.

I am one of the people who donated money to Obama, I did it so he can use the money for his campaign...that is WHY I gave it to him.

[George]

Strength of character and honesty are lacking in McCain and Palin. Bush proved to have neither. You don't have to look far to find proof, unless you choose to remain ignorant of the facts. Yet, some of you still want to continue with the same garbage in the White House. McCain and Palin will say anything to get into the White House. They are not honest people. They don't care about you unless you are what they consider a "true American." It's not open to your interpretation but to theirs. You may consider yourself patriotic and American to the core of your soul, but McCain and Palin seek to serve the Americans they define as "real Americans." Are you one? Don't be so sure.

[Russell4America]

As I recall they both agreed to use public money, McCain kept his work and got Punked by Obama for it.
Are we next?
Posted by: Mike | October 23, 2008 at 09:11 PM

McCain's supporters have already been punked by the selection of Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate. What more do you want?

Obama, wisely, chose the route of relying upon his supporters. To have not done that, would have been John Kerry style bashing by the 527s.

No one is going to shed a single tear for McCain or his supporters. Especially given the nasty campaign based on lies and distortions that McCain has run.

McCain and Palin are unfit to serve and both ought to be ashamed of their behavior on the campaign trail. It's beneath Americans to have to deal with the garbage that flies out of the McCain campaign on an hourly basis.

Proudly voting for OBAMA/BIDEN 2008!

[JD from Hoeno]

I'm not sure how Mr. Lozano can expect to rant that much and be taken seriously when he doesn't know the difference between 700 million and 700 billion dollars. That's a rather large difference and obviously not a slip of the tongue when you look at the context. McCain shot himself in the foot in regards to the grant, it seems. He's done a lot of that. Obama's people have been playing smart. It still wouldn't surprise me if, um, interesting voting practices made up the difference when it comes time and it cuts out a lot of Obama support.

[Enzo1990]

I haven't been this excited about a campaign since I was very young (and I'm near retirement). It's important to elect someone flexible and very intelligent and highly ethical, because whoever is elected will face HUGE challenges both inside the USA and internationally.

The current GOP administration has created a huge national debt, gotten us into a war with Iraq (which had no Taliban before that -- they were in Afghanistan) and has now extended that into Pakistan and now Syria. The belief in 'free' markets with inadequate oversight has caused the WORLD economy to start to crash. The USA is the last industralized nation without some sort of universal healthcare coverage; as a nation we pay the most, but get the least coverage.

As to that dumb socialist jibe, under the definitions I've seen recently, public schools are socialist, when it comes down to it. As is medicare. And Social Security. And the fire and police departments, and any other government service you pay for but might not use right this minute.

[Erika]

I think a point is being missed here..."all that money" is going to pay for the business of the campaigns. Paying PEOPLE to do jobs. Paying BUSINESSES for services. Political campaigns are employing and paying people money so they can feed their kids and pay their bills. It's keeping a lot of people going on the local, state and national level. For heaven's sake, why would we knock anything that is putting cash into our economy these days! Just a little non-partisan thinking....Erika

[Shinpath]

"America will not except a black president. Wake up people. Listen to Shawn hannity"

Posted by: Alabama Pete | October 24, 2008 at 12:58 AM
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If you click Alabama Pete you are directed to a racist website N**germania.com

Nice to see who McCain/Fox News supporters are.

[Ed Neu]

The reason Obama has so much money is that everyone is digging into their pockets in the hopes that it will help elect his ticket to office. That is how democracy works. If Obama wins and you didn't want him to, you will know how I felt for the last eight years.

[No right to vote]

Myself is not allowed to vote in this country, even so I must pay full charge on taxes, have no benefits whatsover and have to work every day as well. I dont care who is the next president of the US, because it doesnt change a thing in my life, but I have children and I know it will matter a lot for them which COUNTRY they will choose to live in.

I dont understand why everyone is complaining about the amounts of money. I thought America is a system of Kapitalism, so it seems to work very well for the Obama team and not so well for the Mc Cain team. Obama is smart, but some propably 50 % of Americans seem not to accept that. Conclusion is that the smart guy makes money the dumm guy doesnt. I hope that coment makes people think >>>>KAPITALISM <<<< works very well, and Obama supports that very well. If you guys want to have a chance and continue beeing a leader of the world you better get the money rolling quick in your Kapitalism otherwise the US goes down the drain. Try to think and get SMART, dont be dumm...