As of today; Obama has 77 million. McCain is capped at 84 million. Some perspective:

[debbierlus]

Tbis means Barack only needs to raise 7 million to come up even. Obama most likely raise over 50 million in September (I think that is a fair low estimate)...This will put him ahead 43 million by the end of the month.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080914/pl_politico/2...

If Obama raises another 50 million in October, this will put him ahead 93 million by the end of October.

Now, I realize that the Republicans will use their slime 527s to lie. However, if the Republicans' actually had serious 527s in place to challenge Obama, I do not think you would be seeing the McCain campaign running the really low ads (think Obama teaching Sex to Kindergarden ad), themselves. If he had financially significant backup from 527s, he would let them smear without having to put his name on the ad (I am John McCain, & I approve this ad). Because of this, the Obama camp can now claim that the McCain camp is running the sleaziest campaign in American history:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Also, we have 527s as well. One pro-Obama group has raised 10 million dollars thus far. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12431.html

Plus, organizations such as Planned Parenthood and other independent not for profits that will run their own campaign.

And, we OWN the internet content.

So, I guess the point of this post is to give a little perspective. It would seem that Obama has a HUGE money advantage over McCain. Right now, it is a statistical dead heat. And, this is after McCain was outspending Obama because he needed to use all of his campaign cash before he accepted federal funds. Lastly, although the political junkies here at DU pain-stakingly follow every detail of the campaigns, for most Americans, this is where it starts.

And, this is where Obama can come out in full force with a war chest McCain could only dream of...

Donate to Barack's campaign today. And, let's CRUSH McCain in November. This battle has just begun, 'my friends'.

[graywarrior]

1. Thanks for posting.

Valuable info, for sure.

[ksimons]

11. FREE Advertising - the GOP and McCain know it...

All the GOP and McCain have to do is the same thing they did 4 and 8 years go. Make such controversial web ads that they are played 24 hours a day on the news, on media shows and throughout the day on various home-spun 'good morning america'-type shows around the country. They aren't stupid. Just be controversial and it'll get free airplay.

The money isn't the issue, it is the fact that the Democratic Party thinks they just have to respond to ads, instead of initiate the ads themselves. If they repeat this pattern again, the election is lost. Period.

By only responding, any new-issue ad that you put out looks like part of the response and gets lost in the mix of the response and the attack. You have to attack both before AND when you see the whites of their eyes. They have the money, they better spend it while people are starting to get their absentee ballots.

The Election has started or has someone in the ad department of the Democratic Party missed that? hahahah

[Egnever]

22. Welcome back

:hi:

[Mark E. Smith]

2. Great stuff

You rock.

[debbierlus]

8. I think we are burned out, and it is tough to keep perspective

We need a little reality check every now and again.

[Mark E. Smith]

31. I'm at the point where I am merely being cheerful

And I like to compliment posts that make me feel good.

Beyond that I'm a basket case.

[democracy1st]

3. thanks debbierlus K & R

[stray cat]

4. The GOP has alot more money than the DNC and they are giving it to McCain as as add on.

[debbierlus]

10. The GOP does have a lot more money, but they can't spend it on McCain ads

They can spend it on other races.

However, our candidates are raising money for their own campaigns that does not get counted into the DNC total. And, our candidates are outraising the repubs.

[Statistical]

30. Not true.

Not true. Yesterday I saw an Obama attack ad on TV in VA.
I was waiting for the "I am John McCain and I approved this message" line.
Instead it said "Paid for by Republican National Convention - Victory 2008".

The only difference between GOP $$$ and McCain $$$ is that McCain can't control how/where/why the money is spent because it is "not his".

The DNC raised $27 million in July. The RNC raised $87 million.
The "offical" numbers come out on Sept 20 for month of August likely it will be just as bad.

Believe it or not Kerry outspent Bush in 2004 by 15%.
However the RNC outspent the DNC 3 to 1.

The DNC just can't fund raise to save their lives. Would be nice if the DNC could help Obama out by $50-$60 million. That might be enough to push him over the top.

[NotThisTime]

15. The RNC has something like 90 million dollars right now

[Faygo Kid]

17. Exactly. We will never have more money than the GOP. We have to win on the ground.

I continue to give to Obama, but it's never going to be possible to have more money than the GOP brings in. That's why this nation is on a downward slide, benefiting the few over the many.

[debbierlus]

20. The RNC does have significant money, however Obama is very competitive

[BlooInBloo]

5. I wonder if any DUers will admit how wrong they were when they wrung their hands...

At Obama going it alone on funding?

[FrenchieCat]

6. That's what I'm talking about!

The unsung Obama advantages; this is one of many!

Thank you for the perspective!

[ps1074]

7. Big part of Obama's money

Go to his ground operation. I don't have any numbers but from what I've read, I am sure a substantial part of the money go to voter registration, field offices, GOTV etc etc... McCain can't spend the kind of money Obama can.

[ClarkUSA]

9. The RNC is raising tons of $$$ (much more than the DNC) and their funds will go to helping McCain.

So it's not as lopsided as you've described. What with the RNC's approximately $100M CoH and McCain's publicly-financed $84M,
it'll be close unless the majority of huffy and/or sulking Hillraisers start stepping up the plate soon. Bush II, McCain, and Palin are
doing fundraisers for the RNC to boost their huge CoH haul as we speak.

Which is all the more reason to donate to Team Obama when we can, all we can, even if it's $5 or $10 at a time.

[debbierlus]

18. You are right, the RNC does have a LOT more money then the DNC BUT

Our individual candidates are outraising their Republican counterparts in most states. Dems are pissed at the DNC, so the money is going to the individual candidate, not the Democratic National Committee. The money discrepancy becomes much smaller when the coffers of our candidates are measured against the coffers of their candidates.

The RNC will have to spend the money to even out those races, so while the Republicans may be able to keep Senate & Congressional races about even with the dems, Obama will still keep his money advantage. And, that advantage will work to the benefit of all dems.

I will go find the link about the campaigns of individual candidates....

Also, it was not my intention to dismiss the RNC advantage over the DNC. Here is a quote from the yahoo article linked in the OP about the figures:

McCain ended the month with about $18 million in cash, which he had to transfer to the Republican National Committee because of his decision to participate in the public finance system. The party committee had $76 million in the bank before the transfer. A party official said the party also had about $20 million in a joint fundraising committee and in special state party accounts that can be used to help McCain.

But McCain has a head start over Obama with the $84 million in federal funds. By accepting that money, however, he can no longer raise money for his campaign from donors and is limited to spending only that amount. As a result, any additional fundraising can only be done for the GOP.

Democratic fundraisers say Obama and the Democratic Party must do even better than their August totals to stay ahead of McCain and the well-heeled RNC. Obama and the DNC raised a combined total of more than $83 million, but fundraisers say their joint totals ahead should exceed $100 million a month.

McCain and the GOP have been able to stay essentially even with Obama and the Democrats through August because the RNC has had strong fundraising and low spending. The Democratic National Committee has had lower fundraising and higher spending.

In August, the RNC raised about $22 million, shy of its $26 million sum in July. The Democratic National committee reported raising $17.3 million in August, short of the $20 million raised in July.

Even though he can raise no more money for his campaign, McCain has placed his popular running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, on an aggressive fundraising schedule for the Republican Party. She has about one fundraiser every two days for the remainder of the campaign.

Obama has scheduled a series of fundraisers and has continued to make Internet and e-mail appeals his donors and supporters. The campaign reported that it raised $10 million in less than 24 hours this month, following Palin's address to the Republican National Convention.

Overall, Obama has raised more than $440 million for his presidential campaign, an unprecedented amount. The campaign said it has more than 2.5 million donors. McCain has raised $194 million.

[Doremus]

23. Why are Dems pissed at the DNC? n/t

[juajen]

25. You mean those sulking and huffy Hillraisers ya'll said you didn't need, and

then ya'll refused to contribute to reduce Hill's debt? Those huffy and sulking Hillraisers? Gotcha ya. Just askin'.

[ClarkUSA]

27. I said nothing of the sort; I mean the ones that are still fighting the primary wars, like you...

Yeah, those sore losers.

[GrizzlyMan]

29. The RNC has to spend a huge chunk of that money on their house and senate races

It won't all go to McCain. They have a number of threatened seats that are going to cost a lot of money to defend and many are in very expensive media markets.

[mzmolly]

12. They also have the RNC and 527 groups that can air nasty ads and distance

themselves from McCain while doing so. I am not convinced this means much, though I am encouraged for obvious reasons.

That said, some in the media warned of voter fatigue with too many ads, so I hope Obama will add humor to his and keep things interesting on that level? I think it would be more effective and less likely to wear on people if we give people a chuckle while we campaign? Frankens ads in Minnesota have been very effective for this reason.

[debbierlus]

19. I addressed this in the OP

And, I am with you on the humor.

[mzmolly]

24. You raised a good point on McCain's 527's

But, IIRC they waited to start hitting Kerry with the swift boat smears? In fact, I just read they're regrouping to go up against Obama? That said, it's encouraging that we have the money to fight them this time. :hi:

http://firedoglake.com/2008/06/23/swift-boat-liars-ready-to-swift-boat-obama-will-mccain-denounce-them/

[Orlandodem]

13. My first ever campaign contribution will go towards his September total.

I wrote it and sent it the other day. I hope "Mr. Baracktober" buries Palin/McCain in an avalanche next month.

[flamingdem]

14. I want them to attack that Ad with Obama looking sinister & the Sex Ed

issue. Nasty stuff.

[Quixote1818]

16. Obama needs to use some of that money in states we are not expected to win

States like Montana, North Dakota, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina etc. It will force McCain to either spend precious money in these states or risk a possible Obama upset.

[DinahMoeHum]

21. Yes, If not for the electoral votes, at least we can win some down-ticket

races in those areas, build the bench strength, and soften up that state for the next election cycle.

:kick:

[Liberal_in_LA]

26. 'my friends' Where have a heard that before? lol

[AwakeAtLast]

28. I did donate - today!

:bounce:

I will probably donate more in two weeks, too!

:bounce: