According to the Washington Times, the McCain campaign is near-bankruptcy — only $3.7M raised so far this quarter, and those are gross figures!

“The campaign has raised only $3.7 million to date for the quarter,” a longtime, influential friend of the Arizona Republican told The Washington Times.

“The hope was to reach $4.5 million, about a third of what was raised in the ‘disastrous’ second quarter,’ ” said the McCain supporter, who has access to the senator’s daily campaign operations.

The figures he cited — although anything but rosy — mask the even worse state of the campaign’s finances, said the source, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect his relationship with the senator.

“Those are gross numbers, not net,” the friend said. “Plus the campaign is carrying $2.5 to $3 million in debt. [He's] done for.”

McCain is a laughingstock, with one GOP insider saying that “McCain is as relevant as Britney Spears. No one takes him seriously anymore.” What’s keeping this guy in the race? How long will it be before McCain drops out and endorses Benito? A month? Why delay the inevitable?

While McCain is burning through the little cash that he has, Ron Paul is raising money hand over fist on the West Coast and hoarding it for a January surge campaign in New Hampshire. A contrast of two campaigns…