Obama raises $45 million in February

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WASHINGTON, March 19 (UPI) -- President Obama raised $45 million in February in a joint effort by his re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee, his campaign said.

The February total was up from the $29.1 million he raised in January, but still behind the record $56 million Obama raised in February 2008, The Washington Post reported Monday.

The campaign, which released the information via YouTube, said nearly 98 percent of 348,000 contributors donated no more than $250 and the average donation was $59.

Obama's re-election bid hasn't kept pace with his 2008 campaign in big-buck donations.

Priorities USA, a third-party committee that hoped to garner major donors to Obama's campaign, raised $2 million, less than similar super-PACS backing Republican candidates.

The Obama campaign did not release his cash on hand, the Post said.

The deadline for Federal Election Commission reports is Tuesday.

Among Republicans running to be the party's presidential nominee, the Post said former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney raised $11.5 million last month and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania raised $9 million.