Obama Wallet Strikes Fear in GOP Hearts

Republicans not used to worrying about money are sweating pennies, given John McCain's relatively inept fundraising in the face of an unprecedented Democratic war chest. Barack Obama, by conservative estimates, will have $300 million to McCain’s federal cap of $85 million for the general-election campaign, Politico reports—and with that kind of money, Obama could force McCain to play defense in traditionally red states.

Obama used the strategy in the primaries, spending wildly in Pennsylvania, with little hope of winning, to force Clinton to expend time and resources there. Now, Obama can run ad blitzes in a host of red states—maybe even McCain’s own Arizona. “McCain has to make every dollar count in the general election,” said one analyst. “Obama will have money to burn.” (More Barack Obama stories.)