WASHINGTON — Barack Obama brings many distinctive traits to the 2008 presidential campaign, but one is especially rare for a Democratic candidate: He has an unusual ability to raise lots of money, which he will be able to spend earlier in the election season than his predecessors.
Dependent on federal matching funds, candidates in the past usually waited until Labor Day, when federal money became available, to begin most of their television advertising. Four years ago, Democratic Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts faced a monumental problem when his presidential campaign accounts dried up as he waited for federal funding. It hampered his response to attack ads that eventually helped President George W. Bush get re-elected.
But Obama is such a strong fundraiser that he is expected to skip the system of federal election funding -- freeing him from the timing rules and spending caps that come with it. That will give the Illinois senator the ability to air television spots and organize field staff long before the traditional Labor Day start of general-election campaigning. Obama, for example, can use the money to introduce himself to Latino voters, a group that does not know him well even after the 16-month primary season.
"Money is not dispositive," said Jim Jordan, who advised Kerry in his 2004 presidential campaign. "But I would rather outspend my opponent 4 to 1 than be outspent 4 to 1."
With Obama expected to face an onslaught from Republicans and their allies -- who may go after his lack of experience and his controversial former church affiliation -- having the money available now means at the very least that Democrats would be better positioned this year to respond to the kind of Swift boat attacks that damaged Kerry during his cash-starved weeks.
Obama has raised three times more than McCain -- $265 million to McCain's $90 million. He has tapped far more donors than any other candidate in 2008. Although he has not yet reached the estimated 2 million donors who gave to Bush through November four years ago, Obama has received money from 1.5 million individuals, whose average gift is less than $100.
McCain backers are unconcerned, pointing to the fact that the Arizona Republican won his party's nomination even though he was outspent by his rivals. "At the end of the day, we know that much more important than the money numbers is the candidate," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers.
