RNC raises record $66M in September

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- The Republican National Committee says it raised a record $66 million in September.

RNC officials said the amount should allow Sen. John McCain, the GOP standard-bearer , to compete with his well-funded Democratic challenger, Sen. Barack Obama, The Washington Post reported Friday.

Obama, D-Ill., turned down general election public funding, choosing instead to continue to raise funds through Election Day. McCain, R-Ariz., accepted $84 million in public money and agreed not to raise funds after accepting the nomination in return.

However, McCain is allowed to help raise money for the RNC, which has broken records during the past several months, the Post reported.