Obama and McCain running low on cash
Democrat using huge advantage
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WASHINGTON - Barack Obama and John McCain enter the final days of the presidential campaign amid dwindling cash reserves, with Obama hindered by a drop in fund-raising and McCain restrained by spending limits.
Democrat Obama spent more than $105 million during the first two weeks of October, according to new campaign finance reports, and reported raising only $36 million during that period, about half his pace in September when he brought in a record $150 million.
Obama had nearly $66 million in the bank as of Oct. 15, and the Democratic National Committee and a joint Obama-party victory fund had another $31 million combined.
McCain and the Republican National Committee reported having a combined $84 million as of Oct. 15 to spend before Election Day. McCain, who has accepted $84.1 million in public money, had spent all but $25 million as of mid-month.
The reports also showed Obama using his huge financial advantage. He spent more than $80 million on media advertising, while McCain and the Republican National Committee spent a combined $38 million.
In seven key swing states - Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia - Obama ran more than double the number of ads between Oct. 6 and Oct. 22 than McCain, 53,049 to 21,106,
Obama, who opted out of public financing, is continuing to appeal to supporters to donate more.
McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, meanwhile, tried to douse a furor over how their side spent theirs.
The RNC came under scrutiny after reporting this week that it had spent about $150,000 in September on wardrobe and cosmetics after Palin joined the GOP ticket.
In interviews with the Chicago Tribune and Fox News Channel, Palin said the clothes bought for the Republican National Convention were not worth $150,000 and said most have not left her campaign plane.
"Those clothes are not my property," she said Thursday night on Fox. "They are either returned or they're going to charity."
