McCain to accept public financing

Posted: Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:24 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy and NBC's Mark Murray
Aboard the Straight Talk Express from the airport to the hotel in Minneapolis, McCain said that his campaign has decided that it will accept public financing for the general election. “We will take public financing,” Asked what his thinking was, he said, “Because we decided to take public financing.”

That will enable McCain to spend $84 million after the GOP convention.

Obama, who today rejected the public financing system, could possibly raise more than three times that amount for the general election.

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Comments

is there a single obama supporter out there that didn't want obama to take their 100$ donation.....and dump the fed system.

I didn't think so.

Now everyone get on line and get this over with.

wds, seattle, wa (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:36 PM)

"Asked what his thinking was?"

Real Answer: I'll take 84 Million over the 55 or so I would have raised without it.

Obama/Webb 08

Marques (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:38 PM)

I don't use the checkoff on the tax return because I may not like any of the candidates. Some candidates will use everything they can, especially if they are short funds, to get elected.

OREGON (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:39 PM)

This is a real turn
The GOP always had more campaign funds than the Democrats

It will be a strategic advantage for Obama

But, will the GOP vacuum up all the contributions for the House & Senate
This means the DNC will have to fund raise like crazy

60 Senators would give Obama a 'filibuster proof' Senate
This would be invaluable for Court appointments
(all appointments, catually)

The worm has turned !!
Serves you right, GOP

John McCain, there's no fool like an old fool

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:40 PM)

I think that wins Obama the election.

If Mcain's best shot at winning is picking off Michigan or Pennsylvania to offset any states Obama may gain then he's headed for a lose with public financing. These states are cash rich. All the while Obama will have the funds to go do 60 seconds spots in Florida while still winning the ad-wars in against McCain in the Mid-West.

McCain's town hall charm may win him New Hampshire but thats only 4 electoral votes.

James, London, UK (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:41 PM)

McCain said he would take public financing and that enabled him to secure a loan earlier so he's "all-in" now to avoid getting slammed by the Elections Commission.

Coleen, Seattle, Washington (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:42 PM)

Why can't he raise his own money? Give that money to troops in Iraq.

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:43 PM)

And that's the game folks. Game, set, match to Obama.

cmac, LA, CA (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:43 PM)

McCain had better tap into that beer money. He's going to be in more debt than Hillary after the election. Meanwhile, I'll be donating to the Obama campaign. I see it as a wise investment, and I never have a problenm investing in my future when I see the benefits and payoffs.

Neshka, MN (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:44 PM)

Calling anything related to the war gnome "straight talk" is like calling a cow a pig. McCain's earlier borrowing of cash probably locked him into public funding no matter what he's saying. The RNC has got a huge pile of cash...much more than the DNC, they'll use to fund their standard dirty tricks.

bill, okla (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:44 PM)

Perhaps because he may not be able to raise that much through direct fundraising?

Funny though isn't it?
You have a Republican "eating at the public trough" whereas the Democrat is taking the "pull myself up by my own bootstraps" approach. I guess this election really is a "change" election.

Roofin Reality, Houston, Tx. (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:45 PM)

Ha ha ha!!!! McZombie is broke!!!

Kris STL (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:46 PM)

Obama is a FRAUD!!!! ZERO morals, he is NOT qualified to lead our country. Go back to Chicago - home of dirty political tricks!

abby (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:46 PM)

McCain said that his campaign has decided that it will accept public financing for the general election. “We will take public financing,” Asked what his thinking was, he said, “Because we decided to take public financing.”

**********************

Straight talk or broken record??? McCain sounds a little irritated here...

At least Obama can give logical reasons for his decisions!

Beth, Denton, TX (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:48 PM)

Everything McCain does these days is a gimmick, including this.

Zelda, Pittsburgh PA (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:49 PM)

He could either take the 84 million of money dems and repukes donated or....the $1.50 the republican donors have given him over the last three months.

Even a Fossil can see that math is in his favor.

Jason, Rochester Hills, MI (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:49 PM)

Just wait... he will Flip Flop ont hat too

http://laststopmidwest.blogspot.com

James, Wichita, KS (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:51 PM)

This is PERFECT!!!! What a good choice for the Democratic Party there ole' Johnny McSame. This also happens to be his political death sentence.

:) Go OBama!!!!

Joe, White Bear Lake, MN (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:52 PM)

McCain will need to if he wants any money. Senator Obama has my permission to change his mind and let us, support his campaign!

100% for Senator Obama

Senator Obama IS financed by the public (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:54 PM)

The 84 million would be better spent in the flood areas. Shame on you McCain!!!

John (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:55 PM)

McShame will take it where he can find it, evidence by the 300k he took from that Texas billionare... what was it again that guy said about rape, something about "when it's inevitable you may as well lay back and enjoy it", sounds like McFossil's kind of guy... love em and leave em!

Nero, CA (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:55 PM)

I'm not upset that Sen. Obama has decided not to accept public financing. This man has created a new to finance his campaign and Sen. McCain is upset that he can't raise no where near the amount of cash that Obama can

McCain should stop going on tv crying and pouting like a little child saying, "he broke his word, he broke his word". McCain and the republicans would have done the same thing if they could raise the type of money Obama is doing.

Richard "Yo mama is voting for Obama", Chicago (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:58 PM)

The Republican Party and Conservative activists will raise a significant amount of money for the benefit of John McCain. There will be salicious attack ads on the behalf of John McCain which McCain will not control, nor repudiate. Why help one's adversary?

McCain's acceptance of public financing releases his campaign from having to spend a lot of time raising money. Coupled with the fund raising abilities of the Republican Paty, and other conservative organizations, this might be a good strategic move, giving the Conservative organization's overall effort more money than Obama can raise.

Murgatroyd, Umpqua, Oregon (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:58 PM)

Its over

laughaday (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:01 PM)

Obama, who today rejected the public financing system, could possibly raise more than three times that amount for the general election
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yeah between Oprah, Rev Wright, the Rap Thugs, he should make plenty. I wonder were his alliance will be?

Stop the Insanity, New York, New York (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:01 PM)

McLiar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

It's not because you decided to take public financing - it's because the old faggot admittedly has always had problems raising money. Although he has little to worry - he's got the RNC and those 527 sponsored by lobbyists.

If you thought you were going to box Obama into this one, you're either foolishly amateurish or you truly stupidly believed he's naive.

SARAH-JANE (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:04 PM)

McCain will need to if he wants any money. Senator Obama has my permission to change his mind and let us, support his campaign!

100% for Senator Obama

Senator Obama IS financed by the public (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:04 PM)

He decided to take public financing because he isn't able to raise the money that Sen. Obama is raising. I think that Obama's decision to not take this financing is a very smart move. He never absolutely said he would and those who are reporting this story know it. Does anybody think for one minute that John McCain would do it any differently if he were in Barack Obama's shoes!

wilkshobbs@localnet.com (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:08 PM)

What the old man should have said prior to soiling his depends was

... because we can't raise more than 10-15 million per month on our own!

ya know (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:09 PM)

The Pied Piper has had a busy day:

flip-flopping on public financing
flip-flopping on NAFTA

CHANGE = whatever barack feels will get him elected!

ReaganDem84 (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:10 PM)

He had no choice. It was either accept the 84 Mil, or spend the entire campaign fundraising to keep up with Obama - which he could never do anyway.

tough luck.

common sense (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:11 PM)

I am glad Obama didn't decide on public financing. In a way he did, by having over one hundred and fifty million donors in his campaign. I am one of them and I am proud of it. Obama can make as much as he needs to finance his general campaign. He will need a lot of it to counteract the 527s that we all know are coming from the Republican side. We Democrats all learned, only too well, what the 527s did to John Kerry. McCain is just "bitter" because he can't come near Obama in raising enought money from his donors. If the "shoe was on the other foot", McCain would not take public finance either. He just has to get over it and move on in his campaign. He whines about everything Obama does. It is getting very tiring to hear about it every day. He should stick to the issues and leave the personal attacks on Obama out of it. That is also why Obama needs a great deal of money to counteract McCain's caustic remarks. Cindy should also control her mouth in slamming Michelle Obama about her not proud of her country. That was very undignified of her. I thought she was a better person than that. I used to have respect for her, but after that statement, she lost my respect.

Paula M. CA (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:11 PM)

Obama's gonna outspend the GOP like nothin. And every dime is going to be worth keeping a Repub from sittin in the el presidente suite.

chris, phoenix, az (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:15 PM)

That's great. At least that's more than McLobbyist can raise. HAH! I have no idea why the Republicans are letting this old senile insane man lead. I'm a republican but NO WAY will be voting for McCain...and I live in Arizona!!

Arizona Resident, Phoenix, aZ (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:18 PM)

>> Obama, who today rejected the public financing
>> system, could possibly raise more than three
>> times that amount for the general election.

Doesn't matter. Obama was outspending Hillary 3-1, 5-1, and sometimes 10-1 in the later primaries, and he was still getting blown out of the water. We know what Barack Obama is all about now. We know how far out of the main stream he is. We know about his less then stellar associations and close friendships with domestic terrorists and separatists. We know Obama has no clear ideas or plans to solve the problems in the country. We know Obama was a leader in the most corrupt state in the country and those party bosses still own his every move. Obama could outspend McCain 50-1, and he'd still lose.

Money isn't everything Liberals. It can't buy you happiness, and it can't buy you an election.

Chester Taylor, Edens Prairie, Minn (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:19 PM)

With 1.5 million people funding his campaign that is public financing in it's best form. Go Obama!

Jim, Mesa, AZ (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:20 PM)

Obama is an honest peerson. Public financing can't help Obama and he is doing what is best for the Party. I commend his decision. McCain is so jealous of Obama that he will throw anything at him but it won't work. The McCains are toast. Cindy McCain should also watch her step when she tries to trash Michelle Obama because it is her family with the checkered past NOT THE OBAMAS!!!

Kay, Fairmont, WV (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:20 PM)

McCain keeps his word and Obama does NOT!!

Enough said--it is about character.

dee in tn (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:21 PM)

I do realize that Obama is getting some flack for changing his mind, but if you ask me it is only wise business sense, if he can raise more money to compete in a race that is sure to be a tough and costly one then he by all means should do what is best. McCain tried his best to get out of the same deal, but it is my understanding he could not, he LOCKED himself into this, so be it!

McCain now has the nerve to suggest that Obama is being dishonest, I do not see this, but as I said he is only being wise as we need him to be, we need someone that does have the sense to change and make wise decisions when needed even if it means he must change directions legally also this only shows that McCain is not as wise as we need him to be to get himself LOCKED or JAMMED in a corner with no legal way of getting out!

McCain who has flipped flopped on almost every issue is in no position to point the finger and question ANYONE'S morality especially Obama who has kept his promise on all, but now changes to do what is best!

McCain is the lying fox that got outfoxed, who now wants to cry wolf!

Bernice, Clarksville TN. (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:22 PM)

Trying to be a martyre? Pathetic.

SoCal for Obama (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:22 PM)

Guys, just because he calls it the Straight Talk Express doesn't mean that (1) it's an accurate name anymore and ESPECIALLY (2) that you as reputable journalists have to report it as such. If Barack Obama starts calling his bus the Greatest Patriot in the Universe bus will you mindlessly write that also?

Come On, Really... (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:23 PM)

Bernice, Clarksville TN. (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:23 PM)

Does that mean he has to spend everything he has raised up to this point before the convention? I'm sorry I don't know more about this. Can someone clue me in? I am proud of Obama for standing ground on this topic. He did not make ANY binding agreements to use only public financing. He said it would be discussed and negotiated. Since it is obvious the Repubs don't know the first thing about negotiating, alas - we get to raise $ and advertise to our hearts content. Do I wish all of the money raised could go to any of the many crisis situations in the country? Absolutely, but time and again, we are forced to play the game on the field that exists. Just as Obama has completely changed the fund raising dynamic in the country, he will continue to change many of the other constrictive paradigms. But first, he has to be elected. I cannot wait for November. Mark in Seattle, you are so right, if I were a conspiracy theorist, I would think McCain is throwing the election intentionally. He can't go 7 days with a cohesive, consistent thought. It is the darndest thing I've ever seen. More hope for us, I guess!

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:28 PM)

Typical McSame lie. He's not taking it because he said he would. He's taking it because he knows he wont be able to raise more, or as much money on his own. If like Sen. Obama, he knew he could raise more than 85 million, then he wouldnt be accepting public financing. JUST TELL THE TRUTH

GET REAL (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:30 PM)

Why is this an issue? Is O'bimbo going to decline his public financing? Has any major candidate ever declined?

Larry J Clearwater FL (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:31 PM)

Turnabout is fair play. After so many elections
where the GOP outspent the Dems, now they have a chance to even the playing field. For the GOP to cry foul is the height of hubris. Good for Obama.

Alan (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:31 PM)

Old wannabe Barbie has 100 Mil is it? McCain aka Flipper, ( No offence to the real Flipper, who was/is a lot smarter than McCain) makes a big deal if Obama ever amends or clarifies his position on anything; or he just makes things up. Telling people at his "Town Meetings" Obama's raising everyone's taxes - which is a lie! Who cares what McCain thinks about anything. Him and his pretend town meetings, he's a joke.

Obama 08

jackieblu Seattle Wa (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:32 PM)

Kudos to Senator McCain for keeping his word.
Of course Obama had to back pedal on this issue.
After all, he out raised and out spent Senator Clinton by 2 to 1, at the very least, and still limped across the "finish line".

Democrat for McCain (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:34 PM)

McCain can easily do this because the RNC and all the 527's can raise and spend endless amounts of money from lobbiests and special interest groups. The DNC on the other hand will abide by Obama's philosophy of not taking special interest money. The irony is that many people will not see that the Obama approach is the more reformist approach while the McCain is the exploit loopholes approach.

obama will win in georgia (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:36 PM)

The earlier people understands that McCain flip flopping and confusion is due to his age, the better for this country, i have never seen where an old man will playing dirty politics with everything.

These are things his children would have done that he ought call them out on, McCain and Bush are corrupt, they benefit from fighting war and if we don't eject and evict them now, everybody in this country will eat from hand to mouth soonest.

Cole (Sent Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:37 PM)

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