Convention Timing Gives Bush Money Edge

[RedEarth]

WASHINGTON - John Kerry (news - web sites) cut his campaign spending sharply last month in an effort to stretch $75 million in government funding, but he still started September with several million less than President Bush (news - web sites).



Bush's financial advantage heading into the campaign's final weeks stems from the GOP's decision to hold its presidential nominating convention a month later than the Democratic gathering.


Not only does Kerry have to make his $75 million in full government financing for the general-election phase of the campaign last a month longer than Bush does, but the Democratic National Committee (news - web sites) is burning through its money to promote its nominee faster than the Republican National Committee (news - web sites) is.


Kerry spent $10 million last month, starting September with $62 million just as Bush was about to get his $75 million from the Federal Election Commission (news - web sites). Kerry's August spending compares with $36 million in July when he could still use private contributions to cover campaign costs.


The DNC started this month with $56 million in the bank after spending roughly $55 million in August, much of it on TV and radio ads supporting Kerry and opposing Bush.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=3&u=/ap/20040921/ap_on_el_pr/presidential_money

[jtb33]

1. I've always wondered why...

we don't have our later... why we don't have both conventions during the same week.

[Lady_Liberty]

2. Good point

Who decided the Repub conv is after the Dem conv???

[lancdem]

3. The convention of the incumbent's party is always last

Ours was last in 1996 and 2000, if you recall.