Obama raises $51 million in July

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama raked in more than $51 million in July, his campaign announced Saturday, adding that the Illinois senator had $65.8 million cash on hand at the end of last month.

More than 65,000 new donors contributed to Obama’s campaign in July, pushing the total past the two million mark. The presumptive Democratic nominee has now raised nearly $400 million during this campaign cycle.

{mosads}“The 65,000 new donors to the Obama campaign demonstrate just how strongly the American people are looking to fundamentally change business as usual in Washington,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said.

 “We are proud of the millions of volunteers and more than two million donors to the Obama campaign who will provide the backbone of our campaign to put America back on track and reject the old politics and failed Bush policies, which is all John McCain is offering,” Plouffe stated.

The announcement came a day after GOP candidate John McCain’s campaign said the Arizona senator had brought in $27 million last month.

Obama came into August with $65.8 million in cash on hand, more than tripling the $21.4 million McCain has at his disposal. McCain, though, has to spend his remaining cash before receiving $84 million in public general election funds.

Despite Obama’s impressive fundraising, the coming public funds, as well as strong fundraising figures from the Republican National Committee (RNC), has the McCain campaign feeling “confident,” according to campaign manager Rick Davis.

Davis said Friday that he expects the RNC to report raising $26 million during July, giving the committee over $75 million in cash on hand.

The Democratic National Committee announced Saturday that it raised $27.7 million last month and has $28.5 million cash on hand. That total includes money brought in through the Obama Victory Fund and the Democratic White House Victory Fund.