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Bush spends

$ 2 m-a-week

WASHINGTON: His record-shattering treasury drained by a $ 2 million-a-week advertising binge, George W. Bush for the first time trails Democratic rival Al Gore in available cash to spend pursuing the White House over the next five months, records showed on Monday.

The Texas governor's latest spending report shows he began March with just $ 7.5 million - a tenth of the $ 73.9 million warchest he amassed while vanquishing a tougher-than-expected challenge from John McCain for the Republican presidential nomination.

In contrast, Gore's spending slowed over the last two months along with the threat from his now-ousted challenger Bill Bradley, leaving the vice president with more than $ 11 million in the bank to begin the month, campaign aides said.

Bush already has begun to hit the fund-raising trail in pursuit of $ 10 million in fresh funds - a marked reversal that now forces him to catch up in a money chase he once dominated.

The Texas governor cited the "hard-fought primary" in releasing a report that detailed the sudden reversal of fortunes. His aides said he already has raised dlrs 225,000 this month since capturing the Republican nomination on March 14.

Both men face challenges as they try to conserve money for national advertising and targeting of key electoral states over the next five months. Late this summer they'll each receive $ 67.6 million in federal funds for their fall campaigns.

Experts say Bush has raised so much money for primaries that he has tapped most of the traditional Republican donor base, while Gore is facing a $ 40.5 million spending limit he agreed to when he accepted federal funds for his primary campaign. Bush declined federal financing for the primaries, freeing him from the limits.ÑAP