WASHINGTON — The government will give six presidential candidates $15.4 million combined in federal matching funds today, less than half of the amount it divided among presidential candidates during the same period in 2000.

The Federal Election Commission certified the first checks Wednesday for those participating in the presidential public financing system in 2004. The FEC’s first checks in 2000 totaled $34 million for eight candidates.

Wesley Clark, the retired Army general from Arkansas who entered the race in September, months after his rivals, will get a $3.7 million payment, the largest amount of federal matching funds.

That’s followed by:

• $3.6 million for Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman

• $3.4 million for North Carolina Sen. John Edwards

• $3.1 million for Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt

• $736,000 for Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

Each candidate, to qualify, must raise at least $5,000 in each of 20 states in donations of $250 or less.

President Bush and Democrats Howard Dean of Vermont and Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts opted out of the public financing system, and therefore won’t receive the taxpayer-financed payments.

The program’s first payments will be delivered today and will match contributions candidates received from last January through November. Candidates then can apply for additional matching funds once each month.

• Edwards won’t be on ballot in Rhode Island (This article contains several news items)

RALEIGH — Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards likely won’t appear on Rhode Island’s March 2 primary ballot because he failed to submit enough valid signatures, election officials said.

A candidate must have submitted 1,000 valid signatures from registered voters by Dec. 19 to qualify for the ballot.

Secretary of State Matthew Brown said Edwards had only 918 valid signatures, with 321 questionable. Brown, a Democrat, ruled Edwards ineligible last Friday.

Edwards appealed, and an additional 55 signatures were approved Wednesday, leaving Edwards 27 short.

Barring interference by the Rhode Island Supreme Court, Edwards won’t be on the ballot.

• On the stump in S.C. (This article contains several news items)

No candidates planned public events in South Carolina today.

From Staff and Wire Reports