Money: John McCain effectively has $200 million to spend in the general

[cali]

As of last week, when he accepted the nom, Obama can't spend primary funds, and as he's not taking the $86 million for the general, and as the DNC doesn't have nearly as much as the RNC, he's going to have to raise (just a guess here) something like $70 million plus in September to remain competitive.

I can't afford to give much at this time, but the thought of John McCain having more money to spend, isn't a scenario I want to see, so I'm continuing to donate, even if it's not much.

[Joe the Revelator]

1. I thought Obama could roll over his primary funds...since he didn't take public money

With that said everyone should donate as much as they can. I've been giving donations that if my wife knew about, she'd kill me over.

[musicblind]

7. He can. But some people seem confused that he can't.

Don't worry, though, he can.

Still, every single dollar we can give helps.

[gabeana]

2. Its always good to donate money if you can

but I'm sure the Obama camp is managing there money solidly. The money he has raised from June on I would imagine is all for the general

[maseman]

3. Can someone explain this?

I thought that McCain took the public funding and that was all he got?? How does he end up with more than BO and why didn't BO do the same thing as McCain?

No one seems to be able to explain this.

[d_b]

5. RNC?

[d_b]

4. and if that's not bad enough

every Alaskan is about to receive $3200 dividend checks here in about a week. Imagine all those evangelical people with their 10 kids.

I'll be donating heavily to Obama when mine arrives.

[nc4bo]

6. errrr.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/obamas_money_50_million_raised.php

Obama's Money: $50 Million Raised For Primary, But It Doesn't Matter
By Greg Sargent - July 17, 2008, 10:48AM

Here's a bit more detail on Obama's $52 million June haul: According to the Obama campaign, some $50 million of this was raised for use in the primary, and $2 million was raised for the general.

Does this matter? Not really.

Campaign finance rules dictate that any money raised for the primary can be spent all the way up until the convention, even if the primary has already been settled. So Obama can spend the $50 million all the way up until the end of August -- not a difficult thing to do.

And as it happens, Obama could also roll over money left over from the $50 million for use in the general if he so chose. TPM's resident numbers-obsessive, Eric Kleefeld, checked in with Federal Election Commission spokesperson Bob Biersack, who confirmed that Obama can roll over that money because he's opted out of public financing and hence is no longer bound only to spend public money on the general.

So the only significance of the primary-general breakdown is that Obama can't spend the $2 million raised for the general until after the convention. And that obviously doesn't matter at all.

Late Update: Commenters are making a good point: The real significance of the $2 million for the general is that it means that all these donors are still there to be tapped for general election money.

[DCBob]

8. Don't worry about it. Both campaigns have plenty of cash.

For a change, this election will not be determined by money. Obama's message and organization will win this one.

[Tempest]

9. The RNC part has to also be spent on Congress' races

Unless the RNC plans to abandon the Congress' races, Obama is in better shape than McSame.