Campaign digest | Richardson fundraising tops $18 million for the year

WASHINGTON — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson raised about $5.2 million for his Democratic presidential bid in the past three months, bringing his total fundraising for the year to more than $18 million, his campaign said Sunday.

The numbers could solidify Richardson's position behind the three top-polling and top fundraising Democrats — Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards.

The third-quarter fundraising period ended Sunday. All candidates must file detailed financial reports by Oct. 15.

Derry, N.H.

McCain decries Myanmar "thugs"

Buoyed by polls showing a slight uptick, as well as fundraising he says is improving, Sen. John McCain set out Sunday to win New Hampshire votes with his trademark blunt talk.

The Arizona Republican blasted the "military thugs" in Myanmar who are attempting to maintain their junta despite protests of Buddhist monks, and said "we should make the Chinese pay a price" for supporting the regime in the nation formerly known as Burma.

And McCain labeled President Vladimir Putin as "the dictator from Russia" as he called for U.S. energy independence to curb oil imports from the former Soviet Union, Venezuela and Iran.

McCain also challenged a woman in a wheelchair who declared she needed medical marijuana to withstand the pain of a litany of ailments.

"Every town-hall meeting I have, someone shows up and advocates for medical marijuana, and, by the way, in all due respect, alleges that we are arresting the dead and the dying, and I still have not seen any evidence of that," McCain told his questioner.

Columbia, S.C.

Obama: Voters need break from the past

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Sunday front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton does not offer the break from politics as usual that voters need.

Both Sen. Clinton, D-N.Y., and her husband, former President Clinton, have criticized the Illinois senator for his lack of experience.

Obama said he understands their argument.

"They want to make the argument that Senator Clinton is just an extension of the Bill Clinton presidency," Obama said. "They've been the dominant political family in the Democratic Party for the last 20 years now."

But, Obama said: "My belief is that the American people are looking for a fundamental break from the way we've been doing business."

Obama said his opposition to the Iraq war before combat began shows his experience. Clinton voted to authorize military action in Iraq.

"On the single most important foreign-policy issue of our time, I got it right," Obama said.

Obama's campaign Sunday also announced that it had surpassed 350,000 donors for the year, a significant feat at this stage in any campaign. In a letter to supporters, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the donors represented more than 500,000 donations.

Seattle Times news services