Aug. 16-- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama raised $51 million in July, almost twice as much as his Republican rival John McCain, the Illinois senator's campaign said.
Obama's campaign has raised money from more than 2 million people, including 65,000 new donors last month, according to a statement distributed by the campaign. Obama has $65.8 million cash on hand.
Senator McCain of Arizona raised $27 million in July -- his highest monthly total -- and finished the month with $21.4 million in cash, his campaign said yesterday.
Obama has benefited from a large number of donations made on the Internet, a feat McCain is trying to emulate. McCain has received contributions from almost 600,000 individuals.
In June, Obama raised more than $50 million, compared with $22 million for McCain. Both must file their full reports on last month's fundraising and spending to the U.S. Federal Election Commission by Aug. 20.
The two candidates have chosen different paths for financing their campaigns during the last two months.
McCain opted to accept $84 million in public funds and the corresponding requirement that he spend only that money during the last two months of his campaign. That means McCain must use up the $21.4 million and all the cash he accumulates during August before he accepts the Republican presidential nomination at the party's Sept. 1-4 convention in Minneapolis.
Obama decided to forgo the public financing program, betting that he could raise more on his own and have a spending advantage during the final months before the Nov. 4 election.
Obama's campaign has raised money from more than 2 million people, including 65,000 new donors last month, according to a statement distributed by the campaign. Obama has $65.8 million cash on hand.
Senator McCain of Arizona raised $27 million in July -- his highest monthly total -- and finished the month with $21.4 million in cash, his campaign said yesterday.
Obama has benefited from a large number of donations made on the Internet, a feat McCain is trying to emulate. McCain has received contributions from almost 600,000 individuals.
In June, Obama raised more than $50 million, compared with $22 million for McCain. Both must file their full reports on last month's fundraising and spending to the U.S. Federal Election Commission by Aug. 20.
The two candidates have chosen different paths for financing their campaigns during the last two months.
McCain opted to accept $84 million in public funds and the corresponding requirement that he spend only that money during the last two months of his campaign. That means McCain must use up the $21.4 million and all the cash he accumulates during August before he accepts the Republican presidential nomination at the party's Sept. 1-4 convention in Minneapolis.
Obama decided to forgo the public financing program, betting that he could raise more on his own and have a spending advantage during the final months before the Nov. 4 election.