Obama won’t avail of public campaign finance

Barack Obama said on Thursday he will bypass the federal public financing system in the general election...

Barack Obama said on Thursday he will bypass the federal public financing system in the general election, abandoning an earlier commitment to take the money if his Republican rival, John McCain did as well.

Obama, who set records raising money in the primary election, will forgo more than $84 million that would have been available to him in the general election. Candidates who accept public financing cannot raise money from donors for the general election.

Obama would be the first candidate to pass up the funds since Congress passed 1970s post-Watergate campaign finance laws. John McCain has taken steps to accept them in the general election.

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Obama officials said they decided to take that route because McCain is already spending privately raised funds toward the general election campaign. Obama has vastly outraised McCain, however, and would likely retain that advantage if McCain accepts the public money.

“It’s not an easy decision, and especially because I support a robust system of public financing of elections,” Obama told supporters in a video message on Thursday.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the designation gives law enforcement “enhanced powers to combat a group that has instilled fear through violence and intimidation”.

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