Obama tops many presidents in fundraising

WASHINGTON, March 8 (UPI) -- At this point in his presidency Barack Obama has exceeded the fundraising pace of U.S. presidents going all the way back to Jimmy Carter, data indicates.

The data compiled for USA Today shows the president attended 191 fundraisers for himself and others through March 6 in order to stockpile money for his re-election campaign.

By comparison, Obama's predecessor George W. Bush had headlined 134 fundraisers at this point in his first term.

Bill Clinton had attended 96 at the same point in his first term while 109 fundraisers were headlined by George H.W. Bush at this point of his presidency.

Ronald Reagan attended 75 fundraisers by March 6 of his fourth year in office while Jimmy Carter had headlined only 49.

Obama set fundraising records as a candidate four years ago raising a record $745 million.

This time around his campaign officials are now saying he probably won't exceed his 2008 record.