ASHINGTON - George W. Bush spent about $2 million a week in the final month before receiving the Republican presidential nomination even as his fund-raising total broke the $100 million mark.
Bush spent $9.6 million in July, bringing his total spending to $97.2 million, according to records filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission.
Vice President Al Gore, who unlike Bush agreed to limit his spending to $40.5 million in exchange for taxpayer subsidies, set his own record in July by becoming the first presidential candidate to receive $15 million in federal matching funds.
During the primaries, the federal government matches the first $250 of each individual contribution for presidential candidates who limit their spending. Candidates were limited this year to a maximum of $16.9 million in such funds.
''We did a very good job getting people excited about supporting the campaign and raising small donations from individuals,'' Gore campaign spokesman Douglas Hattaway said.
An additional $673,000 in matching funds last month brought Gore's total to $15.3 million, pulling him further away from the old mark of $13.5 million set by 1996 Republican nominee Bob Dole.
