Romney, Edwards and McCain facing money decisions ahead

WASHINGTON (AP) — What a difference public financing makes for two multimillionaires in the presidential race.

Republican Mitt Romney has pumped more than $17 million of his own into his race; Democrat John Edwards, by law, can tap his fortune for no more than $50,000.

Romney has chosen to bypass the taxpayer-financed presidential campaign fund, a move that lets him use his wealth without limitation. If he has put more of his money in during the past
three months, his campaign isn’t saying. The public won’t find out until Jan. 31, when Romney must submit campaign finance reports to the Federal Election Commission.

Edwards has been certified to get $8.8 million in public funds, and he plans to collect. The step not only restricts his spending, it also prohibits him from dipping into his personal wealth. Meanwhile, his campaign is getting more than $2 million in help from labor-backed independent groups.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)