Obama campaign raises $52M in June

WASHINGTON — Sen. Barack Obama's campaign said Thursday it collected $52 million in June, its second-best fundraising month of the year, through an aggressive mix of small and large contributions that produced more than twice the amount raised by Sen. John McCain.

After becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee for president last month, Obama also helped the Democratic National Committee (DNC) sharply boost its fundraising to $22.4 million in June. Obama's campaign and the party have a combined $92.3 million; the Republicans and the McCain campaign began July with about $95 million.

David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager, announced the June fundraising tally Thursday in an e-mail to supporters.

Although the $52 million came close to reaching the $55 million record that Obama set in February, the figure is on pace, or slightly below, projections that campaign aides have set out for party fundraisers. Democrats said they hope to raise $300 million for the campaign, in addition to $180 million for the DNC.

Last week, McCain reported raising more than $22 million in June. But because McCain is participating in the public-financing system — he will receive $84 million to spend from the time he is formally nominated to Election Day — his fundraising burden is less than Obama's, and he is more reliant on the Republican National Committee.

The Obama campaign plans to file its official June numbers with the Federal Election Commission on Sunday, when it will reveal information on donors.

A campaign spokesman, Bill Burton, said $50 million of the June total came in contributions earmarked for the primary campaign, which must be spent before Obama formally accepts the nomination in August. The remaining $2 million can be spent only on the general election.