WASHINGTON — Democrat Barack Obama raised $22 million in May for his presidential campaign, his weakest fundraising month this year, and ended the month with $43 million cash on hand, the campaign reported Friday.
Though Obama has been the fundraising leader in the presidential contest, his May totals are just slightly above Republican rival John McCain’s fundraising for the month. Overall, Obama has raised more than $287 million during the past 17 months, while McCain has raised a total of $115 million.
Obama, who is bypassing the public financing system in the general election, reported that nearly $10 million of his cash on hand was exclusively for the general election.
McCain and Obama have almost equal amounts in the bank to spend during the months between now and their party conventions in late summer — a level of parity between the two candidates that would have been unfathomable just a few months ago.
Obama reported spending $26.6 million in May, a month where he moved to end his Democratic contest with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Obama and Clinton traded primary victories during the month, but Obama continued to build his delegate advantage. He secured the nomination June 3, winning that day’s Montana primary but losing to Clinton in South Dakota. Clinton ended her campaign June 7.
The candidates had until midnight Friday to file their May fundraising reports with the Federal Election Commission. McCain filed his Thursday, and the Obama campaign released top figures from their report Friday evening, before filing their document with the FEC.
Clinton reported a $22.5 million debt at the end of May, more than half of which is from personal loans to her presidential campaign. She received contributions of $12.6 million in May. She lent her campaign nearly $2.2 million during the month, bringing her total personal investment in the campaign to $12.175 million.
Clinton had $3.4 million cash on hand left for primary spending. She also had $23.3 million for the general election, money her campaign cannot use to pay off her primary debt.
The May figures place Obama and McCain on nearly equal footing.
McCain raised $21 million in May and reported $31.6 million cash on hand at month’s end.
But McCain also benefited from the Republican National Committee, which reported $53.5 million cash on hand to the Democratic National Committee’s $4 million. The parties are already working with their respective presidential candidates to coordinate their campaigns.
Obama announced Thursday that he would become the first major party candidate to bypass public financing in the general election.
McCain said he would participate in the system, which will limit him to spending no more than $85 million from September until Election Day in November.
By the numbers
Fundraising figures for May as released by the presidential candidates
Democrat Barack Obama
$295.52 million
Total receipts to date, including $10.72 million for general election.
Total contributions to date: $287.5 million
Total spending: $252.4 million
May contributions: $21.9 million, including $687,000 for general election
May spending: $26.6 million
May transfers or loans: None
Cash on hand: $43 million, including $10 million for general election
Debt: $304,000
Republican John McCain
$121.9 million
Total receipts to date.
Total contributions to date: $115 million
Total spending: $90.3 million
May contributions: $16.6 million
May spending: $11.7 million
May transfers or loans: $4.3 million — money raised through joint victory fund with Republican National Committee
Cash on hand: $31.6 million
Debt: $1.3 million
Hillary Rodham Clinton
$238 million
Total receipts to date, including $23.3 million for the general election and $12.2 million loan.
Total contributions to date: $209.4 million
Total spending: $207.6 million
May contributions: $12.6 million, including $395,000 for the general election
May spending: $19 million
May transfers or loans: $2.175 million personal loan from candidate
Cash on hand: $26.7 million, including $23.3 million for the general election that can’t be used
Debt: $22.5 million, including $12.2 million personal loan
Source: The Associated Press
