|
Obama piles up $52m in June
17/07/2008 19:06 - (SA)
Washington - Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama raised a huge $52m in June, more than double the haul of his Republican rival John McCain in the same month, his campaign said Thursday.
The huge take confounded some recent reports that Obama's fundraising juggernaut might be slowing after he beat Hillary Clinton to the Democratic nomination.
Obama's June total takes his record breaking fundraising for the 2008 race, the most expensive in history, to more than $330m.
His campaign manager David Plouffe annnounced Obama's fundraising coup in an early morning email to the Illinois senator's supporters.
"Because of your generosity and commitment, we're reporting to the press today that this campaign is in a very strong financial position," Plouffe said.
"In the month of June, supporters like you helped raise $52m."
Plouffe said the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee ended the month with $72m in the bank.
McCain's campaign announced last week that the Republican had raised $22m in June - his best month to date.
McCain and the Republican National Committee had $95m combined on hand for the general election.
Last month, Obama caused a storm after going back on an earlier undertaking to accept public financing for his campaign, giving him an advantage, as he will be able to raise as much money as he wants to buy vital television ads.
McCain has already said that he will accept public financing for his campaign, which caps his spending between the Republican convention in early September and the general election at $85m.
- AFP
|
US Elections Special Report
