GOP to question Obama's donations
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The Republican National Committee plans to file a fund-raising complaint against Barack Obama's presidential campaign today, alleging that it has accepted donations that exceed federal limits as well as illegal contributions from foreigners.
RNC officials acknowledged yesterday that they do not have a list of foreign donors to the Democratic campaign. Instead, the complaint is based largely on media reports, including one from a conservative website.
The complaint asks the Federal Elections Commission to audit Obama's campaign fund, RNC chief counsel Sean Cairncross said in a conference call with reporters. Cairncross said little is known about many of Obama's donors because the campaign is not required to disclose detailed information about people who give less than $200.
"It seems to the RNC that the Obama campaign knew they were excessive," Cairncross said. "Yet they appear to have taken no action on their own."
Campaign finance rules set a limit of $2,300 on donations from people who give in small increments. The Obama campaign could face fines if it is found to have violated FEC rules, but any decision would probably come after the election.
The Obama campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Obama, who is not accepting public funds, has raised more than $468 million. About half has come from small donors, a point of pride for the campaign.
By contrast, one-third of McCain's $230 million raised during the primary campaign has come in small donations. McCain is taking public funds in the general election campaign so he is limited to $84 million.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Palin, Alaska's governor, is the focus of a legislative inquiry into whether she abused her office by firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. Monegan says he was dismissed because he wouldn't fire the governor's former brother-in-law.
Lawmakers subpoenaed seven state employees to testify in the inquiry but they challenged those subpoenas. A judge rejected that challenge last week. Because of that ruling, Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg said the employees have decided to testify.
Meanwhile, Palin has embarked on a whirlwind tour of trouble spots for the GOP campaign. She is trying to animate the party's conservative wing with attacks against Barack Obama. She is also courting high-income campaign donors and hoping to win over women and independent voters.
Yesterday, she appeared at a rally in Nebraska. Today, she will begin a two-day tour of Florida extending from Naples in the south to Pensacola in the panhandle. North Carolina and Pennsylvania are next.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Delaware senator had planned to visit New Hampshire today to attend rallies in Rochester and Manchester. Biden spokesman David Wade said Bonny Jean Jacobs, the mother of Biden's wife, Jill, died yesterday after a long illness. Jacobs was 78 and lived in Willow Grove, Pa.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
