State of Play: Obama Opts Out

Jul 31, 202030.3K Shares723.6K Views

Sen. Barack Obama announced this morning on YouTube that he would opt out of the public financing system, forgoing $80 million in government funds…and the spending restrictions that come with it. Obama made a primary-season pledge to opt in if his Republican opponent agreed to do so. Sen. John McCain’s campaign has taken the money and is sure to pounce on Obama’s reversal. For his part, Obama claims the public financing system is broken because "we face opponents who’ve become masters at gaming this broken system."

Major media outlets played the story prominently Thursday morning.

In reversal, Obama says he will forgo public funds(The Los Angeles Times)

Obama to Break Promise, Opt Out of Public Financing for General Election(ABC News)

Obama Opts Out of Public Financing(The New York Times)

Breaking: Obama decides to decline public financing(CNN)

Obama won’t accept public financing(The Hill)

Obama Opts Out Of Public Financing System(CBS News)

Obama will not accept federal matching funds(Philadelphia Inquirer)

Check out Obama’s announcement here: