Obama reelection campaign raises $43.6 million in April

President Obama's reelection campaign manager Jim Messina announces April fundraising President Obama's reelection campaign today announced that it had raised $43.6 million in April, a drop from $56 million one month earlier. The total includes contributions made directly to Obama for America as well as to the Obama Victory Fund, the joint fundraising committee established by OFA and the Democratic National Committee.

Campaign manager Jim Messina did not reveal cash on hand, but said that 98 percent of the contributions made to OFA were less than $250 and that the campaign added 169,500 donors. He said strong fundraising was essential to remain competitive with Mitt Romney and the network of pro-Romney Super PACs.

Overall, the campaign has raised $379 million, though we won't know exactly how much was raised by OFA and how much was raised by OVF until full filings are made later this month. As of the end of March, OFA had raised $191.2 million and OVF had raised $144.9 million.

The campaign is running a $25 million ad campaign this month in swing states. It is also expected to have a very strong fundraising month, with $15 million raised at the George Clooney fundraiser alone.