During the U.S. House Appropriations Committee meeting yesterday, Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan told the group that this year’s presidential elections would be the most costly in the history of the service.  This is mainly due to the fact that Obama and Hillary were candidates long before the usual time frame.

Clinton received protection due to her First Lady status, but beefed up her detail after becoming a candidate while Obama started to receive protection last May.  To date, the two are responsible for over $34 million in taxpayer funded protection.

McCain has not been protected by the Secret Service at all, at his own request.  He is providing his own security at his own expense.

McCain – $0 taxpayer expenses   Obama/Clinton – $34 million.  The Secret Service is spending about $38,000 per candidate per day,
Sullivan said, and at the height of campaign season later this year
expects to spend $44,000 per candidate each day.

One can debate the merits of such a move on McCain’s part, but he can already say that as an aspiring candidate he’s saving more taxpayer money then his opponents.