May Fundraising Numbers In Presidential Race

Obama jazzed up the presidential seal

Update: Obama raised 21.9 million in May http://www.reuters.com

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama raised $21.9 million dollars in the month of May. His rival, Republican nominee, John McCain, brought in $21.4 million dollars, up from previous months.

Some estimate Obama could reach $400 million in fundraising. However, at this juncture, the Republican party has more cash on hand than the Democrats do.

McCain jazzed up his look a la the Blues Brothers

John McCain raised $21.5 million in May

Our colleague Dan Morain passes along word that John McCain raised $21.5 million in May, by far his best fundraising month. The campaign spent $11.6 million the same month, and had $1.27 million in outstanding bills. He took in $1.5 million from other politicians and political action committees, and raised $4.26 million in concert with the Republican Party. McCain ended the month with $31.5 million in the bank, an increase of $10 million from the prior month.

As impressive as that fundraising is, it likely will be far short of the numbers Barack Obama is expected to announce later today. Obama averaged about $40 million a month in February, March and April as he fought with Hillary Clinton over the Democratic nomination -- a battle that continued through May.

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