The fund-raising machine behind Mitt Romney and the Republican Party once again bested President Obama’s effort last month, raising $25 million more in July than the president and his Democratic allies did.
Mr. Romney and the Republican National Committee raised $101.3 million in July, his campaign announced Monday, as Republican donors rallied behind their presumptive nominee with the national convention only a few weeks away.
The president’s campaign announced on Twitter on Monday morning that his July fund-raising topped out at about $75 million. “Every bit helps,” the campaign tweeted, noting that 98 percent of the contributions were under $250.
Mr. Obama’s advisers have all but conceded the money race to Mr. Romney. Fund-raising e-mails from the campaign have taken a more urgent tone over the summer, repeatedly warning supporters of the financial advantage that the Republicans will hold going into the final weeks of the presidential campaign.At this point, there are a couple of big questions:
1. Are the Democrats correct that their early spending on technology and field offices truly was an investment that will pay dividends through November?
2. How will Romney and the Republicans spend their money? Given the small number of undecideds and the saturation of the airwaves, will more ads have much effect? Is it too late to develop the kind of campaign infrastructure that Obama built months ago?
