So How Much Cash Have The Candidates Raised Now?
 Friday, May 2nd, 2008

Ah, but it gets crazier by the month.  For the latest totals of campaign contributions, the Democrats have collected $524.6 million dollars, and the Republican $334.8 million.  Democratic Senator Barack Obama has collected the most contributions, at $234.7 million, followed by Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton at $189.1 million.  Next comes Republican drop-out Mitt Romney at $104.8 million, and then Republican Senator John McCain at $80.6 million.  Republican Congressman Ron Paul is seventh in line (at $34.4 million) after former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Democratic candidate John Edwards.

But something seems amiss, right?  Didn't Sen. John McCain agree to public financing, so that his campaign funds would be part of the public matching program?  How is he up to $80.6 million?  The presidential public financing system only allows for up to a $54 million spending limitation.

Well, folks, on February 6th, right after Super Tuesday, McCain sent a letter to the FEC announcing that he was withdrawing from the program.  Yes, the instigator of the infamous McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) - which, among other things, restricts the amount of money individuals and Political Action Committees (PAC's) can give, supposedly in an effort to make money less involved in politics - has said bye-bye to the FEC in order to have more moolah.

Some people are kinda furious.  RestoreTheRepublic has created a letter to the Federal Election Commission that they are encouraging Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Ron Paul supporters to sign and mail off to the FEC in complaint of McCain's swap.

Thanks, tarkaygivon!

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