Related articles:

Obama bypasses public money Obama and McCain on the hunt for vice presidential candidatesElection pits McCain vs. Obama McCain reports May finances, sets personal record Obama meets with Clinton to start push for party unityClinton, Obama could use each other’s help financially

Driver/Transportation
DRIVERS Administrative & Professional
KNIGHT PIESOLD
PART-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT Construction
ROR Construction
Residential Framing Carpenters Health Care
RLM Services, Inc
Pharmacist Health Care
PAINTED HILLS PEDIATRICS
LPN, RN, MA Health Care
ALLIANCE IMAGING
PRN MRI TECH Health Care
CD Therapist
CD Therapist

WASHINGTON — Democrat Barack Obama raised $22 million in May for his presidential campaign, his weakest fundraising month this year, and ended the month with $43 million cash on hand, the campaign reported Friday.

Though Obama has been the fundraising leader in the presidential contest, his May totals are just slightly above Republican rival John McCain's fundraising for the month. Overall, Obama has raised more than $287 million during the past 17 months, while McCain has raised a total of $115 million.

Obama, who is bypassing the public-financing system in the general election, reported that nearly $10 million of his cash on hand was exclusively for the general election.

McCain and Obama have almost equal amounts in the bank to spend during the months between now and their party conventions in late summer — a level of parity between the two candidates that would have been unfathomable just a few months ago.

Obama reported spending $26.6 million in May, a month in which he moved to end his Democratic contest with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Clinton has reported a $22.5 million debt at the end of May, more than half of which is from personal loans to her presidential campaign.

The former first lady, who ended her campaign June 7, received contributions of $12.6 million in May. She lent her campaign nearly $2.2 million during the month, bringing her total personal investment in the campaign to $12.175 million.

Clinton had $3.4 million cash on hand left for primary spending.

She also had $23.3 million for the general election, money her campaign cannot use to pay off her primary debt.

The May figures place Obama and McCain on nearly equal footing. McCain raised $21 million in May and reported $31.6 million cash on hand at month's end.

But McCain also benefited from the Republican National Committee, which reported $53.5 million cash on hand to the Democratic National Committee's $4 million. The parties are already working with their respective presidential candidates to coordinate their campaigns.

Obama announced Thursday that he would become the first major party candidate to bypass public financing in the general election.

McCain said he would participate in the system, which will limit him to spending no more than $85 million from September until Election Day in November.

Obama's decision gives greater significance to his efforts to capitalize on Clinton's support for the general election. Her donors would be a rich vein to tap.

First, however, Clinton needs substantial help retiring her debt. Many of her loyal donors have already given the maximum to her campaign, so she needs some new sources of money. That's where Obama comes in — his donors help her out, her donors help him.