Obama Asks for $10 More

Obama entered October with $133.6 million in hand

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama spent $87.5 million last month and began October with nearly $134 million in the bank.

The numbers illustrate his vast financial advantage over John McCain, his Republican rival, in the final stretch of the contest. McCain ended September with $47 million in the bank.

Obama, who raised a record-shattering $150 million in September, filed his campaign finance report overnight with the Federal Election Commission. The numbers became available on the FEC Web site Tuesday morning.

Originally posted by sad_eyed_lady
Obama Asks for $10 More

“If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election.”
...
Mr. Obama had pledged to meet with Mr. McCain following the primaries to attempt to work out an agreement on financing the campaigns. That meeting never took place, aides to Mr. Obama said, because a meeting between lawyers for the two sides was not fruitful. “It became clear to me that there wasn’t any basis for future discussion,” said Robert Bauer, the general counsel for Mr. Obama’s campaign.

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic

Originally posted by sad_eyed_lady
Obama Asks for $10 More

By the way, he never made a promise to run on public funds. He promised to pursue an agreement with McCain. Their lawyers met and Obama's lawyer said there was no agreement that could be reached. I'm so glad!
[edit on 23-10-2008 by Benevolent Heretic]

Yesterday, government watchdog groups expressed disappointment with Obama's move. Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook called $85 million "plenty of money" and warned that private funding -- even in the mostly small sums that Obama relies on -- "comes with the expectations of special access or favors."

Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.), a co-sponsor of the bill, called Obama's decision "a mistake" but added: "I look forward to working on this and a wide range of other reform issues with him when he becomes president."