McCain outraised Bush in January

By Jonathan D. Salant, Associated Press, 02/21/00

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John McCain outraised Texas Gov. George W. Bush in campaign funds last month while spending more than $1 million in Michigan, site of a key Republican presidential primary Tuesday.

Overall, McCain spent $6.8 million in January, bringing his total to $21 million, according to reports filed Sunday with the Federal Election Commission. Texas Gov. George W. Bush spent $12.8 million, bringing his total to $50.1 million -- more than any other presidential candidate ever.

On the Democratic side, former Sen. Bill Bradley outspent Al Gore last month, $5 million to $3.8 million, even as he lost both the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary to the vice president.

Michigan Republicans vote Tuesday, with McCain hoping for a victory after trailing Bush in South Carolina on Saturday. The Arizona senator reported spending $1.1 million in Michigan in January, compared with $868,693 in South Carolina and $618,860 in New Hampshire, where he won the Feb. 1 primary.

McCain outraised Bush in January, taking in $2.5 million to bring his total to $18.2 million, including $2 million transferred from his Senate account. He also borrowed $1 million against future federal campaign funds.

McCain had $3.1 million in the bank as of Jan. 31, including $2.8 million in federal funds.

"For months, people would tell us, 'I really like John McCain but there's no way he can win,"' spokesman Dan Schnur said. "Over the last couple of months, they started changing their minds. When the polls started moving in New Hampshire, our fund raising started increasing dramatically. But after we won, it has exploded."

The federal government matches the first $250 of each individual contribution to presidential candidates who agree to limit their spending. Candidates who accept federal funds are limited to spending around $40 million, plus certain legal and accounting expenses. They also must abide by spending limits in each state.

Since his victory in New Hampshire, McCain has raised $8 million, including $3.5 million via the Internet, a senior campaign official said. Including expected federal matching funds, McCain now has $8 million in the bank. Schnur said the Internet fund raising did not drop off after Saturday's loss in South Carolina.

Bush raised $2 million in January, bringing his record-setting total to $70.7 million. He entered February with $20.5 million in the bank -- more than McCain raised through Jan. 31.

"Because of our strong, grass-roots support from so many individuals in all 50 states, Americans are hearing and responding to my message as a reformer with results," Bush said.

Bush is not accepting federal funds and therefore does not have to limit his spending. Nor does he have to report his spending per state, unlike the candidates who receive federal help for their campaigns.

Continuing to spend at the rate of $3 million a week, Bush has since eaten into his $20 million bank balance, and campaign aides said last week that he would begin raising money again to replenish his campaign coffers.

The third Republican in the race, Alan Keyes, raised $655,842 in January, bringing his total to $5.1 million. He also borrowed $380,000 and received $616,629 in federal funds. Keyes spent $1.9 million, bringing his campaign total to $5.6 million.

As for the Democrats, both Gore and Bradley showed how to get around restrictions on how much the candidates can spend in each state.

For example, the New Hampshire spending limit is about $661,000. Bradley spent $560,949 in the state. But he also spent $1.3 million in neighboring Massachusetts. Likewise, Gore spent $479,921 in New Hampshire and $1.5 million in Massachusetts.

In Iowa, where the spending limit is around $1.1 million, Bradley reported spending $931,824 and Gore $930,887. The vice president, meanwhile, has spent 10 times more than Bradley in New York, $495,408 to $46,188, and 20 times more in California, $757,386 to $35,189, in advance of the March 7 primaries in both states.

Overall, Bradley spent $5 million, bringing his total to $24.4 million, while Gore spent $3.8 million, for a total of $27 million.

The two candidates had about the same amount of money to spend in the five weeks leading up to the March 7 primaries that likely will determine the Democratic nominee.

Bradley reported he had $8.9 million in the bank as of Jan. 31, while Gore reported $8.1 million. Bradley was expecting an additional $6.9 million in federal funds, bringing his total to $15.8 million. Gore expected $7.5 million in federal funds, bringing his total to $15.6 million.

Bradley raised $1.3 million in January -- bringing his total for the campaign to $29.2 million -- and received $4.2 million in federal funds. Gore raised just $588,630 during the month, bringing his total to $29.6 million, plus $5.5 million in federal funds.