Clinton raises $35 million in 1 month

Rebounding from weak fundraising in January, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is expected to raise $35 million in February, a figure rival Sen. Barack Obama's campaign said it would surpass, a campaign official said Thursday.
The $35 million would be Clinton'sbiggest fundraising mark yet and represents a remarkable recovery for her campaign.

Obama's campaign reacted promptly, promising an even higher number, but divulging no totals.

"We've raised considerably more than that," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said.

That would make February an astounding fundraising month for the Democrats. At that rate, both candidates would break records for contestants in a primary fight.

Clinton has been struggling to recover from weak fundraising in January. She raised nearly $14 million in January to Obama's $36 million.

The Clinton official spoke on condition of anonymity because the figure was to be formally announced later in the day. The official said almost all the money raised in February was for the primary election. The campaign averaged about a $1 million a day online alone.

Despite her increased fundraising, Obama is still outspending her in the crucial March 4 primary states of Ohio and Texas. As of Tuesday, Obama had spent a total of $7.5 million in advertising in the two states. Clinton had spent $4.6 million.

Obama also was getting help from labor unions. The Service Employees International Union began spending $1.4 million in ads in support of Obama in Ohio and Texas. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union was spending nearly $200,000 in ads in Ohio.