Sen. John McCain raised more than $15 million in March for his presidential campaign, more than any month since he started running. It’s way short of his democratic rivals.

He is returning $3 million in donations given for the General election but contributors are being asked to resend the money to his legal fund (see “McCain and the Money” April 4th post). A source says the money was raised primarily from large donors but he did receive $3.2 million from internet and small donations.

Obama raised $40 million for his primary race in March, the majority of which came from small donors. Clinton raised $20 million.

Taken together various steps and utterances from McCain insiders over the last few weeks make it clear he intends to accept taxpayer funded matching funds for the general election.

The FEC check will be about 85 million dollars.

It would perhaps seem logical on the surface to some.  With Democrats on the verge of making history with either an African American or a female nominee,  Secretary of State Condoleeza  Rice would certainly compliment the McCain candidacy.

BUT! Senior McCain insiders say she has not until this point been under any serious consideration. That is not to say that she might not be soon.

It was reported recently that Rice attended  “The Wednesday Meeting” recently.  Lots of people go, its pretty much open to all.  It’s a regular weekly meeting held at conservative activist Grover Nordquist’s L Street offices in D.C.  Nordquist is head of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) but he dabbles in all sorts of conservative politics.

Rice’s appearance at a recent meeting according to several sources was NOT about auditioning for McCain’s Veep.  BUT she sure is an intriguing prospect.  Would she make it hard for McCain to fight the democratic charges that he’s running for a  third Bush term?