A McCain passion cools

Sen. John McCain, a passionate advocate of limits on campaign finances, is turning down government matching funds for the primary season to free him to spend more money as he prepares for a general election contest.

McCain, who appears headed to win the Republican presidential nomination, sent letters to the Federal Election Commission and the Treasury Department notifying them of his decision to withdraw from the presidential election financing system.

McCain had asked to participate in the public system last summer when his campaign, his fundraising and his poll numbers hit a low point that threatened to unravel his candidacy.

Though the FEC declared him eligible to receive $5.8 million in December, the money would not have become available until next month.

By accepting the money, moreover, McCain would have been required to limit his spending for the primary to about $54 million -- an amount the campaign was close to reaching.

“I will make no further requests for matching-fund payment certification and will not accept any matching-fund payments including the initial amount and other amounts certified by the commission in connection with my campaign’s previous submissions,” McCain wrote in a letter to the FEC last week.

By not taking the money, McCain is free to raise more and to promote his candidacy until the Republican nominating convention in September.

Campaign officials said McCain could still participate in the public financing system in the general election, when the nominees for the two parties would be eligible for about $85 million to spend between their nominating conventions and election day Nov. 4.

McCain was the only remaining presidential candidate in either party who had been certified for primary public funds.

The money, which comes from the $3 taxpayers can set aside in their tax returns, matches the amount of money candidates raise in contributions of $250 or less.