Raising $32.5 million, Obama far outpaces rivals, sets record

Clinton's aides announced earlier that she had raised $27 million in the second quarter. Her total would have set a record among Democratic presidential candidates for the same period in past campaigns but for Obama's even more dramatic showing.

The $32.5 million amassed by Obama is more than all other Democratic candidates combined raised for the same period four years ago -- $30.8 million -- and it nearly matches what President Bush raised in the second quarter of 2003: $35 million.

In a statement Sunday, Obama said that 154,000 donors had given to his campaign in the second quarter. The freshman senator from Illinois raised $31 million solely for the primary, with the remaining $1.5 million available for use in the general election if he wins the nomination. (Clinton raised $21 million for the primary, with the remainder for a general-election campaign.)

"Together, we have built the largest grass-roots campaign in history for this stage of a presidential race," Obama said. His backers, he said, seek "healthcare for all, energy independence and an end to this war in Iraq."

"That's the kind of movement that can change the special- interest-driven politics in Washington and transform our country," he added. "And it's just the beginning."

Obama and the other candidates have until July 15 to file their full campaign finance reports, detailing the exact amounts they raised in the second quarter of 2007 and identifying their donors. The quarter ended Saturday.

Top Democratic presidential candidates almost surely out-raised their Republican counterparts. GOP candidates are expected to release their summaries this week.

Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, generally viewed as the third leading candidate for the Democratic nomination, announced he had raised $9 million in the second quarter.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, another Democratic contender, raised $7.2 million. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) raised $3.25 million and had $6.5 million in the bank.

In an indication of the upward spiral in presidential fundraising, Edwards' $9 million is more than any individual Democratic candidate raised in the same period four years ago, although his total dipped from the $14 million he amassed in the first three months of 2007.