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Obama's Campaign War Chest Pales before Romney's

President Barack Obama's campaign has $60 million less than that of Republican rival Mitt Romney, official figures showed Tuesday, following heavy spending on advertising and a fundraising lag.

In a monthly report for July filed with the Federal Election Commission, Obama claimed reserves of $124 million divided between the president's campaign and his Democratic Party.

Earlier this month the Romney campaign said it had $186 million, more than 50 percent more than the incumbent, as the campaigns ramp up for a final stretch ahead of the November 6 election.

Romney has outstripped Obama in fundraising in each of the last three months and netted $7 million over the weekend during a two-day swing through Massachusetts, where he served as governor from 2003-2007.

The Democrats have meanwhile spent heavily on advertising in the increasingly negative campaign, with each candidate struggling to convince voters his opponent is unfit to lead at a time of economic distress.

Obama got a head start by launching his campaign in April 2011, a year before Romney emerged as the presumptive nominee after a hard-fought primary.

Obama's 2008 presidential run raised a record-breaking $750 million, but his re-election campaign has lagged behind that of Romney, who will officially become the Republican nominee at the party's convention next week.

The Romney team is in a rush to raise what is deemed "primary money," funding that a candidate brings in before the convention which can be spent up until the November election.

After Romney becomes the official nominee, donors can make fresh contributions toward the general election campaign.

Source: Agence France Presse


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