McCain approaches $20 million in campaign spending

John McCain has spent nearly $20 million on his re-election bid, according to campaign finance figures released Friday by his campaign.

Nearly all of McCain’s spending has come since former U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth began challenging him in the Republican primary earlier this year.

McCain has been blanketing the airwaves with ads attacking Hayworth, particularly for appearing in a 2007 infomercial pitching free government grants.

This week the Arizona senator began airing a $500,000 ad linking Hayworth to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was sentenced to four years in prison on mail fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion charges.

Hayworth received thousands of dollars from Abramoff and his clients. He donated to charity the money he received directly from Abramoff but kept money raised from the lobbyist’s Indian tribe clients.

To defeat Hayworth, McCain spent $3.6 million from July 1 to Aug. 4, the finance summary shows. He raised $400,000 and transferred $2.9 million that was left over from his failed 2008 presidential bid.

In total, McCain has transferred more than $7.5 million from his presidential campaign funds for use in his Senate re-election. He had $1.5 million on hand at the end of the period.

“Sen. McCain is proud of the statewide support he’s received from Arizonans, both financial and otherwise, and looks forward to victory Aug. 24,” McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said in a statement.

Hayworth spokesman Mark Sanders declined to release specific spending figures, but he said Hayworth was on track to spend about $2 million total on the race.

Sanders said McCain was “continuing to try to buy this election, but we’re confident the people of Arizona can’t be bought.”