Obama Outraised McCain In Arizona

Obama Out-Raises McCain in Arizona
By Matthew DeLong 07/24/2008 11:05AM
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- After a Zogby Online poll earlier this month found Sen. John McCain trailing Sen. Barack Obama in Arizona, new evidence emerged today that McCain may not have a lock on his home state in November. The Arizona Republic features a front-page story reporting that Obama out-raised McCain in Arizona by 38 percent in June -- and McCain holds a narrow lead over Obama in total fund-raising in the state. From the Republic:
Barack Obama quietly raised more money in Arizona last month for his presidential campaign than John McCain did, and the Illinois Democrat dominates the overall fundraising map in 43 states and Washington, D.C., records show.

Obama reported $432,000 in donations from Arizonans in June, compared with McCain's $313,000, based on an Arizona Republic analysis of Federal Election Commission records. Neither campaign properly codes all contributions with a state, making it impossible to know exactly where all donations came from.

Since last year, McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, has raised at least $4.7 million from his fellow Arizonans, double what Obama reports from the state. But donations this year are nearly even: McCain's Arizona donors have given him $2 million. Obama's Arizona donors have given him just $66,000 less.
According to the article, Obama's fund-raising pattern in Arizona mirrors the national trend -- he raised the bulk of his money from small, individual donors.
His average contribution for June in Arizona was $115. McCain's Arizona donors averaged $241. In his home state of Illinois, Obama has raised more than $20 million. McCain has raised $3.7 million there.
The Republic story also notes the Arizona Democratic Party reports its voter registration in Arizona has jumped by 50,000 since 2006, -- but state records show it still trails the Republicans by 110,000.

As we reported previously, McCain held a couple of open-press campaign events in Arizona recently -- an unusual occurrence for the senator, who frequently spends the weekend at his ranch in Sedona. McCain is expected to be home again this weekend, and we'll be keeping a close eye on his activities. If he invites the press along anywhere, it could be a further indication that the campaign is taking these indicators seriously -- and is not taking his home state for granted.
http://www.washingtonindependent.com/view/obama-out-r