Aide says Obama money advantage not as big

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama's decision to forgo public campaign financing isn't producing the financing advantage originally thought, campaign officials said.

Since deciding to skip public financing in favor of small contributors and a high-end donor network, the Democratic presidential nominee's campaign has been struggling to meet fundraising goals set for the campaign and the party, The New York Times reported Monday.

Republican Party nominee for president Sen. John McCain, however, accepted public money, getting an $84 million contribution from the U.S. Treasury recently. McCain is barred from raising more money for his own campaign treasury,but can rely on money accepted by the Republican National Committee.

The Obama campaign doesn't have to report its August fundraising totals to the Federal Election Commission until next week, but a spokesman told the Times August could be the best fundraising month yet and the campaign's fundraising was on track.

"We're confident we will meet our financial goals but it's hard work" Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said to the Times. "We have a long way to go in the next six weeks."