Did Obama buy the presidency?

Critics who claim Barack Obama bought his way into the White House are quick to quote the fund raising facts of the election campaign.

The Illinois senator harvested more campaign cash than anyone before him, using both the Internet and traditional high-roller dinners to bring in more than $650 million from some 3 million donors for his presidential campaign. The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, John Kerry, raised less than half that amount, as did George W. Bush and Al Gore combined in 2000.

One observer said Obama went into the “knife fight” with a machete and McCain went in with a pen knife.

Even before the final ad blitz, Obama had spent $190.2 million on media, compared with $76.7 million by McCain. The money allowed him to both fend off McCain's attacks and go on the offensive. In addition, he was able to expand his campaign to states traditionally inhospitable to Democratic presidential candidates, such as Virginia, North Carolina and Indiana.

Through Oct. 15, Obama also spent $46 million on staff salaries, more than double McCain's $20.1 million, helping to open field offices and build a get-out-the-vote operation.

One interesting note: McCain made his contributor list available for public scrutiny while Obama did not - especially the huge amounts he received from foreign countries.

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