Kerry bests Bush in campaign cash stakes

DEMOCRATIC challenger John Kerry raised more campaign cash than US President George W Bush last month and spent more too, but started June with millions less on hand than the incumbent as a summer of campaigning begins.

Mr Kerry spent $32 million in May and opened this month with about $28 million left, a monthly campaign finance report he filed on Sunday with the Federal Election Commission showed. Mr Bush used up $22 million last month and started June with $63 million on hand, according to his latest FEC report.

Both candidates have been raising and spending money at a record pace. Each has poured tens of millions of dollars into ads in battleground states since Mr Kerry emerged from the Democratic primaries.