Obama Raises $30M in June, Below Expecations

Insiders say that Barack Obama raised about $30 million in June, which, by the campaign's own lofty standards, is a bit lackluster, reports the Wall Street Journal. Obama hopes to have raised $300 million by mid-October, with an additional $180 million for the DNC, bringing his record budget to nearly $500 million. McCain's camp, meanwhile, raised $22 million in June and plans to spend about $400 million when factoring in party and public funds.

Fundraisers blame the month on lingering resentment from former Clinton donors, and the Journal speculates that moves to the center may have angered Barack’s small-donor base. Still, others say it’s normal to have slower summer months (and Obama will be abroad for some of July). Said one nonplussed campaign figure, “I think September is going to be an absolutely Herculean month.” (More Barack Obama stories.)