US:THIS YEAR'S US presidential contest has been groundbreaking in many ways, but none more than in the race for campaign cash.
So far in this primary election season - in 2007 and in January 2008 - the presidential candidates have raised a combined $542 million (€365m) from individuals, according to the non-partisan Campaign Finance Institute.
That's nearly double the previous record of $285.7 million raised during the primaries in the same 13-month period in 2003 and 2004.
Remarkably, the proportion of large versus small donations has remained quite close despite the huge overall increase.
Contributions of $1,000 (€673) or more have accounted for 58 per cent of individual gifts in the latest 13-month period.
That compares with 64 per cent during that same period of the previous presidential contest.
Small donations of $200 or less, fuelled largely by the internet, accounted for 28 per cent of individual contributions during the most recent 13 months, up from 23 per cent.
Senator Hillary Clinton has raised about half her primary money so far from donors who gave $2,300, the largest amount allowed. Barack Obama and John McCain, in contrast, have raised only about a third of their funds from "maxed out" donors.
Senator Obama has received 36 per cent of his donations from contributors of $200 or less.
The largest amount of money from any single sector came from employees of the finance, insurance and property industries, according to the Centre for Responsive Politics.
Lawyers and lobbyists, and the employees of communications, electronics and health firms, also have been major contributors to campaign funds.