WASHINGTON — Democrat Barack Obama raised $52 million last month for his presidential campaign, more than twice as much as Republican rival John McCain in a significant boost to his financial cache for the fall contest.

The Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee ended June with a combined total of $92.3 million in the bank. The figure represents a notable fundraising jump, especially for the DNC. Obama reported $72 million cash on hand and the DNC $20.3 million. But the Democrats still lag behind McCain's presidential campaign and the Republican Party.

Last week, McCain reported raising more than $22 million in June, which was his best month of the year. Together, the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee began July with about $95 million in the bank.

The reason for the discrepancy — greater fundraising by Obama and the DNC but less money in the bank than McCain and the GOP — is because until now the DNC had spent much of its money, leaving little cash on hand.

MCCAIN GETS DUE IN SOCIAL SECURITY

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Although Republican presidential candidate John McCain has called Social Security "a disgrace," he still cashes his own retirement check every month.

"I'm receiving the benefits, the system is broken and, unfortunately, my children and grandchildren, according to the trustees of the Social Security system, will not have the same benefits the present retirees have," McCain said yesterday on his campaign bus.

McCain's 2007 tax return shows Social Security benefits of $23,157 for the year, an average of $1,929.75 a month. He said he started receiving the payments "whenever I was eligible."

Social Security benefits are projected to exceed the system's tax revenues in about nine years. The program's trustees have said the Social Security trust fund will be depleted by 2041 unless the system is changed.

McCain, who will turn 72 next month, was eligible to receive full retirement benefits when he turned 65. In 2008, the maximum benefit for a person retiring at full retirement age was $2,185.

SOETORO-NG ON STUMP IN FLORIDA

TAMPA, Fla. — Barack Obama's sister isn't just campaigning for her brother at home.

It's summer break for schoolteacher Maya Soetoro-Ng in Hawai'i, and she's now campaigning for the presidential candidate in Florida.

Soetoro-Ng was to talk yesterday at a "Women for Obama" reception in Tampa.

Soetoro-Ng is nine years younger than the Illinois senator and teaches history at the private La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls.

Rep. Neil Abercrombie has said he expects Obama himself to spend some time in Hawai'i before the Democratic convention in August.

OBAMA DAUGHTERS PROMISED A PUPPY

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has reportedly told his two daughters that the family will get a puppy after November — no matter the electoral outcome. (His rival, John McCain, already has a bustling menagerie, including English springer spaniel Sam, Yorkshire terriers Lucy and Desi, mixed-breed Coco, Oreo the cat, two turtles named Cuff and Link, a ferret, three parakeets and more than a dozen saltwater fish.)

The American Kennel Club has come up with a list of hypoallergenic breeds for the Obamas. Cast your vote at presiden tialpup.com by Aug. 19.

In turn, an irked Best Friends Animal Society has launched the rival http://obamafamilydog.com to encourage the family to adopt a shelter dog.

As for your pooch, he can give an endorsement at http://PetsVote.com.

LONGER GAS-TAX HOLIDAY SUGGESTED

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — John McCain said yesterday that his proposal to suspend the gas tax for three months this summer may need to be extended if high gas prices continue to take a toll on the economy.

"I think we ought to seriously look at whether we need to have it be longer or not depending on what the economy (does)," McCain said, standing beside the Grand River.

"I think we have to consider all options but the fact is we need a gas tax holiday. We need it, we need it, we need it very badly. The Americans that are hurt the most are low-income Americans that are driving the oldest automobiles," he said.

McCain suggested the longer gas tax holiday the day before his visit today to a General Motors plant in Michigan, and a town hall meeting with auto workers. The auto industry was already reeling from its own problems when it was rocked again by gas costing $4 a gallon and more, and the state of Michigan's fortunes are tied to the auto industry.