McCain campaign is 'done for,' insider says

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Sen. John McCain's campaign has raised only $3.7 million to date for the third quarter, an influential friend of the Arizona Republican has told The Washington Times. "The hope was to reach $4.5 million, about a third of what was raised in the 'disastrous' second quarter," the McCain supporter told Ralph Z. Hallow, who will report the story in Friday's editions of The Times. Speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect his relationship with the senator, the friend said: "Those are gross numbers, not net. Plus the campaign is carrying $2.5 to $3 million in debt. [He's] done for." But Jill Hazelbaker, press secretary for the McCain campaign, said her boss "is up in at least five new national polls by two to nine points. Pollsters and experts agree that McCain is clearly gaining traction." Ms. Hazelbaker also denied that money is a vital issue for Mr. McCain. Mr. McCain's problems erupted in July, when two top advisers and the entire press staff left the campaign. At the time, campaign reported that it already had spent most of the $24 million it had raised in the previous quarter.