McCain collects $565,000 so far

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?S ... 5449-9849r

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Presidential contender Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., received $565,000 in campaign contributions in the first six weeks after his committee began operations.

Federal Election Commission reports show that McCain got contributions from all 50 states, the Arizona Republic reported. Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani reported $1.3 million in the same period, much of it from a single fund-raiser in New York.

McCain has not yet held a fundraiser, and a campaign aide said the early numbers do not mean much. The figures cover the period from Nov. 16 to Dec. 31.

"We're just ramping up," the aide said.

McCain and Giuliani are the best known candidates in the Republican field -- and the ones with the most appeal to independents, many political analysts say. Both candidates have potential drawbacks, including McCain's age and Giuliani's messy personal life, which includes two divorces and three marriages, the newspaper said.