THE FUNDING mismatch between Barack Obama and his opponent for the US presidency, John McCain, was starkly highlighted yesterday when the Republican candidate disclosed he had less than $47 million (€35.3 million) available for the final stretch of the campaign to the November 4th election, compared with his rival's hundreds of millions.
Mr McCain, filing his accounts to the government-run electoral spending watchdog, revealed that in September he used $37 million of the $84 million in public funds he had available for his campaign.
Mr McCain accepted public financing of $84 million, which puts a ceiling on any further spending under electoral law.
Mr Obama opted against public financing, leaving him free to raise and spend as much as he wants in private donations.
The news came a day after Mr Obama disclosed that he had raised a staggering $150 million in September.
Republican strategists admitted that the mismatch would mean Mr McCain's options were much narrower than Mr Obama's and he would have to target the money more carefully on key states.
Rick Davis, McCain's campaign manager, told reporters: "I think we can still win on that basis."
But he admitted that Mr Obama would go down as "the greatest fundraiser in political history".
Mr Davis expressed hope that the Republican party, which has separate funds amounting to $80 million, would pitch in with advertisements supporting Mr McCain's campaign.
But some state party organisations, notably in Florida and Virginia, are reluctant to commit funds and are holding back for future contests.
Massie Ritsch, who works for the independent Centre for Responsive Politics, a funding watchdog, acknowledged that "it is not a level playing field". But he said the question was whether Mr McCain could have matched Mr Obama in fundraising.
"I do not think he could have raised as much as Obama from private sources, or even near it. McCain must be hoping his party will close that gap," said Mr Ritsch.
Mr Obama has raised more than $600 million since the start of his presidential bid in February last year.
His campaign is already outspending Mr McCain on advertising by four to one - and in some states by eight to one - and is well placed for a blitz on an unprecedented scale in the run-up to the election.
With the election two weeks away from today, the candidates are now close to the sprint stage, when the campaign day becomes longer and longer, with multi-state visits.
Mr Obama yesterday predicted that there would be more negative campaigning by Mr McCain in the final fortnight.
"But we're not going to be distracted. We're not going to be diverted. Not this time. Not this year. Our challenges are too great for a politics that's so small," he said. - ( Guardian service)