by Jill Zuckman and Mark Silva
Republican Sen. John McCain has scored his best fundraising month to date — with $15 million collected in March — according to a campaign official.
This may be overshadowed by the money that the Democrats raised last month — $40 million by Barack Obama and $20 million by Hillary Clinton. But it’s the best number yet for the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee, who set a previous record of $11.7 million for himself in January.
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McCain also can count on $84 million in public financing for the general election campaign, should he accept it. So McCain’s donors are being asked to supplement that with contributions to the Republican National Committee, which has set a goal of raising $120 million through a joint Victory Committee. Individuals are permitted to donate up to $28,500 to the party.
With the Democrats still battling over their party’s nomination, Obama has raised about $234 million for his campaign, Clinton $175 million for hers, during the span of the contest so far, and McCain has raised about $75 million since he started campaigning last year.
(McCain pictured today with campaign strategist Charlie Black.AP Photo by Mary Altaffer)