Empty Coffers Force McCain From Stump

With Florida's Republican primary nearing, John McCain is making a risky decision to trade stumping for fund-raising—an effort to fill coffers ahead of Super Tuesday competition against a rival who can loan money to his own campaign. McCain has seven donor events before Tuesday’s vote, an itinerary advisers say is necessary to mount an advertising push in the big states, the Hill reports.

“Romney can raise a lot of money by writing himself a check,” said one McCain adviser. Arizona senator’s people can’t match Mitt’s ad money, but there's less need to introduce the famous candidate to voters. One watcher says against deep pockets, “the antidote to that is winning primaries”; indeed, the winner in Florida should enjoy a substantial—and free!—bounce Feb. 5. (More Mitt Romney stories.)