Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Reports released on Thursday showed that U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spent 55 million U.S. dollars for his campaign in July, compared to the 32 million dollars his Republican rival John McCain invested.

    According to the financial reports Obama's campaign filed to the Federal Election Commission, he raised more than 50 million dollars in July and remained strong momentum in inspiring new donors.

    Among his expense of 55 million dollars, about three-fifths went to media costs as he was caught in a fierce ad battle with McCain.

    McCain financial reports released on Wednesday showed that he raised more than 26 million U.S. dollars in July, with two-thirds on advertising, leaving him more than 21 million dollars in the bank at the start of August.

    McCain showed a debt of 2 million dollars while Obama had debts of nearly 1 million dollars, according to their reports.

    The report also showed that both of the two White House hopefuls lent help from their parties, respectively, in raising campaign fund, with 5.6 million dollars of McCain's total amount raised coming from contributions made to a joint victory fund set up with the Republican National Committee, and 12.5 million dollars Obama got being connected to the Democratic National Committee.

    Former Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton, reported a slight reduction of her campaign debt from 25.2 million dollars in June to 23.9 million dollars in July, but she is still struggling to raise money to write off her debts. 　

Poll: Obama's lead over McCain declines by half

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) listens to opening remarks during a town hall meeting in Martinsville, Virginia, Aug. 20, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's lead over his Republican rival, John McCain, has declined by half, according to a poll released on Wednesday.

    The CNN poll of polls showed that Obama only has a slim lead of 3 percentage points over McCain, at 46 to 43 percent, compared to a high of 8 points he had in mid of July. Full story

McCain's fundraising picks up 


   WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's fundraising continued to pick up, as his campaign announced Friday that he collected 27 million U.S. dollars in July, his best monthly total.

    But once the Arizona senator formally accepts the Republican presidential nomination on Sept. 4, he will be under the limit of the 84 million dollars in public funds which he agreed to accept for the fall campaign. Full story

McCain takes hard stance toward Russia 

Republican U.S. presidential candidate Senator John McCain (R-AZ) makes a statement on the developments in Georgia at the Des Moines International Airport during a campaign stop at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa Aug.8, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Aimed to consolidate his commander-in-chief credentials, U.S. Republican presidential hopeful John McCain took a hard stance toward Russia Monday in the wake of the Russia-Georgia conflict.

    "Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin must understand the severe, long-term negative consequences that their government's actions will have for Russia's relationship with the U.S. and Europe," McCain said in Erie, Pennsylvania, before a bus trip of the state. Full story

Poll: More U.S. voters think it "riskier" to elect Obama than McCain 

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama smiles as the audience sings him "Happy Birthday" during a campaign stop at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan August 4, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- A poll released on Wednesday found that more registered voters thought electing Barack Obama is riskier compared to John McCain.

    According to the poll by CNN and Opinion Research Corp., 57 percent of the 914 interviewed said that the Democratic presidential candidate would be a risky choice, compared to 54 percent having the same feeling about his Republican presidential rival. Full story