Obama reports $42 million to challenge Clinton in April

[Barack_America]

Obama reports $42 million to challenge Clinton in April

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Barack Obama raised $41 million in March and had $42 million available to spend against Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in April, campaign finance reports filed Sunday show.

Clinton aides said late Sunday she would report raising about $20 million in March and that she had more than $8 million for the primary available at the beginning of April.

Overall, Obama had $51 million in the bank at the end of March, with nearly $9 million of that available only for the general election.

The money positioned Obama to undertake an expensive April campaign in Pennsylvania, where he has outspent Clinton and cut into her lead. Pennsylvania votes on Tuesday.

The money positioned Obama to undertake an expensive April campaign in Pennsylvania, where he has outspent Clinton and cut into her lead. Pennsylvania votes on Tuesday.

Obama's fundraising in March led all candidates, but was still lower than the mark he set in February, when he raised more than $55 million. He has raised $235 million in his campaign.

Clinton was expected to file her report with the Federal Election Commission by the midnight deadline.

Republican John McCain's report showed he raised $15.2 million and had $11.6 million in the bank. The Arizona senator's March figures were his best fundraising performance of the campaign.

More:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/20/campaign.finance.ap/index.html