"Obama is such a strong fundraiser that he is expected to skip the system of federal election funding — freeing him from the timing rules and spending caps that come with it. That will give the Illinois senator the ability to air television spots and organize field staff long before the traditional Labor Day start of general-election campaigning. Obama, for example, can use the money to introduce himself to Latino voters, a group that does not know him well even after the 16-month primary season. [...]

"Obama has raised three times more than McCain — $265 million to McCain's $90 million. He has tapped far more donors than any other candidate in 2008. Although he has not yet reached the estimated 2 million donors who gave to Bush through November four years ago, Obama has received money from 1.5 million individuals, whose average gift is less than $100." [LAT]