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Obama More Than Doubles McCain's June $$ Haul; Pleads Huge Financial Disadvantage Using Wrong Numbers

July 17, 2008 7:50 AM

The Wall Street Journal's previous reporting that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, only raised just over $30 million in June is now inoperable.; this morning in an email to supporters Obama campaign manager David Plouffe announced that the campaign had raised a total of $52 million in June. The average donation, the campaign says, was $68. 

Just over $2 million of Obama's $52 million is for the general, all the rest is for the primary, meaning it can be spent before the Democratic convention in August.

The campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, reported raising $22 million during that month.

But, Plouffe cautions supporters, the RNC is far outraising the DNC. "The Obama campaign and the DNC ended June with a combined total of nearly $72 million in the bank," Plouffe wrote. "It's a healthy number. But McCain and the RNC together still have a huge cash advantage, and we need your help to close the gap. ...The McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee finished June with nearly $100 million in the bank." (That number is actually $95 million.)

Shortly after sending out that mass email,* however, Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton emailed reporters to note an error: "The Obama campaign has $72 milllion cash on hand on its own, not combined. The DNC totals will be out shortly. "

Per ABC News' Political Director David Chalian, the DNC raised $22,481,194 in June and has $20,306,056 cash on hand. Meaning the Obama campaign and DNC have a combined total of nearly $92 million in the bank, not $72 million as previously claimed.

Meaning the "huge cash advantage" of McCain and the RNC that Plouffe referred to in his fundraising solicitation is not so huge after all.

In other money news, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is preparing to formally declare that he will not try to repay the $45 million he lent his own campaign, the Boston Globe reports. And McCain surrogate Carly Fiorina was dispatched to meet with some high-profile donors to Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, to try to convince them to come on board the Straight Talk Express, the WSJ reports.

- jpt

* This post has been updated with new figures.

July 17, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (112)

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It is interesting that even though obama is getting so much money in contributions that he is still in virtually a dead heat with mccain. I was a life long democrat who will vote for mccain after the way Obama and the DNC treated Hillary. I'd rather vote for an elephant than a jack- - - anyday! After Nov. I will only vote when a woman runs for office who I support and will also vote against any Obama supporters and henchmen. How is he NOT politics as usual when he has such a humongous campaign fund chest? The dems were all upset about k st. with the republicans and now they are doing the same thing! We need another party because the current two are hideous!

Posted by: mary anne | Jul 18, 2008 2:43:27 PM

Gnat Turner:

Only a bug with the brain of a gnat..and the heart of a snake...
would put his country in jeopardy
by placing it in the hands of a newbie!

HILLARY or MCCAIN

BUT ALWAYS:

COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY!!!!!

Posted by: hmmmmmmmmm | Jul 18, 2008 12:18:41 AM

"Obama has out and out proven he can be bought"

author unknown

______________

He learned with the best of them... on he streets of politically incorrect Chicago!

Posted by: curious | Jul 18, 2008 12:14:10 AM

One question I have is whether the Obama campaign is properly reporting all of its small contributors.

From what I have read, the presidential campaigns only need to report the identity of contributors who donate more $200 or more. So, if you give $199, you are not reported. However, what about contributors (like many who have posted comments here) who give multiple small donations. At some point, their total contributions may exceed $200. Is the Obama campaign keeping track and reporting these contributors?

Of course, the FEC is unable to muster a quorum since the Democrat controlled Senate refuses to vote on the President's nominees. So, Obama could be violating the law right and left and there will be no one that the McCain camp can report this to.

I know that someone is going to raise the issue about the McCain campaign loans. That issue would be cleared up (and McCain cleared of any wrongdoing) IF the FEC could meet...but I guess the Dems don't WANT the FEC to meet for just that reason.

Posted by: Hugh | Jul 17, 2008 8:43:12 PM

It sure took them a long time to divulge (or count) his June take! Chicago style math, anyone! Still way short of $100 Million. lol!

Posted by: Beckie | Jul 17, 2008 8:24:47 PM


All this money they are raising, both parties, would be better spent on the poor and sick. Instead the parties use it to try to make the other look worse than themselves. Unfortunately, all the blind political sheep (yes most of the poeple here included) are going to play that game, point at the other side and declare foul. If these peopel would spend it where it was needed, or at least to show what good they could do, I haven't heard that from either side, that would earn my vote.

In the mean time, they spend it on blame games and declaring, usually falsly, their own innnocence and goodness, and lead everyone around through the smoke.
Open your eyes people, they don't care. They want you to be blind and confused to keep you from seeing that all they care about is their respective Party and filling thier pockets.

Posted by: Maverick | Jul 17, 2008 7:24:14 PM

Wonderful,Great,
Obama has out and right proven he is the best candidate money can buy.

Could not take a chance on trying to win the white house on the issues.
so he and his crew are buying it.

barack the flim flam man Obama

Posted by: the patriot | Jul 17, 2008 7:08:34 PM

" Sen. Obama is against additional drilling and building additional refineries so that we can lower our dependency of foreign oil "


I don't quite understand how drilling HERE would increase our dependency on foreign oil...

Does anyone (except Obama)?

Posted by: between the ears | Jul 17, 2008 3:16:13 PM
********************
Osama is stupid or wants to bankrupt america. letting oil prices rise out of control for 15 years while he builds a windmill is the hight of kindergarden day dreams. we need all the energy we can get as fast as possible. we must work on all energy at the same time as fast as possible. this means drill, refineery, nuclear, clean coal and all kinds of green energy. Immediately and as fast as possible on ALL of them. McCain wants to do it all. Obama wants to look at windmills and do nothing else.

Posted by: DemocratNoMore2 | Jul 17, 2008 7:07:55 PM

Jane Hussein, the more oil that is flooded into the open market does effect the global price of oil. But while maybe not all of the new oil will come to the United States refineries, we will certainly get the lion's share of it -- provided we have the additional refineries to process the oil.

Posted by: James Danley | Jul 17, 2008 4:12:49 PM

"Posted by: curious | Jul 17, 2008 3:11:43 PM
**********
'That Obama is against nuclear energy. Untrue.

That Obama is agaisnt electric cars, also untrue.

That Obama wants to just walk away and give up in Iraq. Also untrue."

Posted by: Jane Hussein | Jul 17, 2008 3:31:49 PM
----------------
jANE:

Those are not "cites".
Those are your answers... to whose questions......

tsk tsk

Posted by: curious | Jul 17, 2008 3:56:35 PM

James,

The oil we produce does not go to the US, it goes to the open market, thus having very little affect on our oil prices.

Posted by: Jane Hussein | Jul 17, 2008 3:33:05 PM

Between the ears, additional drilling here would lower our dependency for foreign oil. The more domestic oil we produce the less foreign oil we need.

Posted by: James Danley | Jul 17, 2008 3:31:51 PM

Enquiring minds would loke to know what they were.....

Posted by: curious | Jul 17, 2008 3:11:43 PM
**********
That Obama is against nuclear energy. Untrue.

That Obama is agaisnt electric cars, also untrue.

That Obama wants to just walk away and give up in Iraq. Also untrue.

Posted by: Jane Hussein | Jul 17, 2008 3:31:49 PM

" Sen. Obama is against additional drilling and building additional refineries so that we can lower our dependency of foreign oil "


I don't quite understand how drilling HERE would increase our dependency on foreign oil...

Does anyone (except Obama)?

Posted by: between the ears | Jul 17, 2008 3:16:13 PM

hey hussein,


"Then I heard McCain speak today and he just out and out lies about Obama."

How about some "CITES" here?

Enquiring minds would loke to know what they were.....

Posted by: curious | Jul 17, 2008 3:11:43 PM

... btw, Ms. J. Hussein, I am college-educated (BS & MS), have a good job and a nice home. I don't believe that the Dems in general, nor Obama specifically, support the policies that are in my best interest, including increased government spending on welfare, affirmative action, unfettered and unregulated immigration, prolonged dependence on foreign oil and a weak stance on our national security which our enemies understand will be more negotiation with no teeth. I am not interested in living in a socialistic, welfare state.

Posted by: prm | Jul 17, 2008 2:35:03 PM

Sure, there are some colledge educated, middle class people voting for Obama, but like every Democratic candidate, Obama is dependent on the 90% of the African American vote that goes to Dems in every Presidential election, and Obama has increased this percentage and is expected to bring a larger number from this segment to the polls. Without this segment of the vote, which has been convinced by their leaders (Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton) that the Dems have their best interest at heart (by keeping them dependent on affirmative action, welfare and the like), no Dem would even have a shot at winning.

Posted by: prm | Jul 17, 2008 2:23:52 PM

Norma Duffy, you wrote: "At least my 68.00 went to Obama who will keep our money in our pocket for a while."

I guess you haven't heard that we send $300 Billion per year overseas to pay for foreign oil. Sen. Obama is against additional drilling and building additional refineries so that we can lower our dependency of foreign oil and keeping more of our money here at home. Instead he is only in favor of cutting our demand of oil, which will take 20 years under his plan. Therefore under a President Obama that price tag will go up even higher! So much for keeping our money at home!!

Posted by: James Danley | Jul 17, 2008 2:05:32 PM

I can't fathom why anyone, would want a Prez that wants to continue spending your money in other Countries besides our own! At least my 68.00 went to Obama who will keep our money in our pocket for a while, and I will spend another 68.00 to ensure the grand people of this country continue to be able to keep their money in their pockets so they can feed themselves and family!
No MCshame in my Game!!!! Obama08

Posted by: Norma Duffy | Jul 17, 2008 1:36:43 PM

"Nader, McCain, McKinney--all better qualified than Obama."

PLUS: no John Kerry factor.

Posted by: Belle Starr | Jul 17, 2008 1:34:55 PM

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