ASHINGTON - George W. Bush broke through the $90 million fund-raising mark last month, but ha has less than $1 million a week to spend through the Republican National Convention in early August. Al Gore will be able to spend about the same amount each week.
Bush reported yesterday that he had $7.1 million in his campaign account at the end of May. He raised $650,000 so far this month, and has another fund-raiser scheduled Friday in Alabama.
Gore reported a bank account balance of $8.3 million. He also expects an additional $1.3 million in federal matching funds. But the Democratic Party Convention is Aug. 14-17, less than two weeks after the Republican meeting July 31-Aug. 3, and Gore's money will have to last until then.
After the national conventions, each candidate will receive $67.6 million in federal funds for the general election and cannot raise any more money except to cover legal and accounting costs.
In his monthly filing with the Federal Election Commission, Bush reported raising $6 million in May, 10 times more than Gore, bringing his fund-raising total to more than $90 million, twice as much as any previous presidential candidate. The previous fund-raising record was set by 1996 GOP nominee Bob Dole, who raised $31.3 million and received $13.5 million in federal matching funds for a total of $44.8 million.
Bush received the maximum $5,000 contribution from the political action committee of CSX Corp., a major railroad company. Congress is considering legislation to renew the Surface Transportation Board, which regulates the railroad industry. He got $5,000 from the PAC of the lobbying firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, whose clients include defense contractors Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Loral, and Northrop Grumman. Bush has called for boosting defense spending.
Bush spent $4.9 million last month, bringing his spending total to $83 million. More than one-fourth of the total, $22.4 million, went for advertising.
