Show Us the Money

June 19, 2008— -- Friday is the deadline for the presidential candidates to file their May financial reports with the FEC.

So far the Obama campaign has been mum about their May fundraising and spending but based on their decision to opt out of public financing, you have to think they are feeling pretty confident about their financial situation. http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/obama-to-break.html

Through April 30, the Obama campaign raised $264.4 million overall and the McCain campaign raised $89.1 million overall, per ABC News' Tahman Bradley.

The McCain campaign has said it expects to report $21.5 million in May – his best month ever – and started June with $31.5 million in the bank

The most anticipated stat to come tomorrow may be the overall debt that Hillary Clinton will report to the FEC (and don't be surprised if that figure comes late, in order to bury it on a Friday summer evening). ABC News' Bradley reports that as of the end of April, the Clinton campaign was carrying $19.4 million in debt. The higher that Clinton number is tomorrow, the more significant the June 26th Obama/Clinton joint fundraiser becomes for the New York Senator, who is looking to Obama to help her retire some of that debt.

NAFTA was front and center in the lead-up to the Ohio Democratic primary, with the Obama and Clinton campaigns engaging in a heated debate on the issue as they angled to position themselves with working class voters.

It looks like the trade agreement is returning to the campaign spotlight, with John McCain scheduled to deliver remarks on free trade Friday at the Economic Club of Toronto in Ottawa, Canada. McCain will talk in general about the importance of the United States' relationship with Canada and talk specifically about the importance of the U.S.-Canada trading relationship

The speech and setting gives the McCain campaign an opportunity to highlight what they will say are inconsistencies in Obama's positions on trade with Canada.

Expect Exhibit A from the McCain campaign to be Obama's recent interview with Fortune Magazine where the Democrat seemed to dial back from his strong primary season criticisms of NAFTA (Paging Austen Goolsbee).

In 2006, Sen. Obama said that public financing saved taxpayers money. LINK

The First Wives Club
Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain campaign to be the next first lady. LINK

Cindy McCain Stands by Her Man
The presumptive GOP nominee's spouse talks about the race for the White House. LINK

Obama Camp Offends Muslim Women
Volunteers deny two women in head scarves place behind candidate at rally. LINK

Obama's Flip Flop
Sen. Obama decides to forgo public financing and Sen. McCain is on the attack. LINK

Who Can Fight the War on Terror?
Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain trade words over who can best keep America safe. LINK