President-elect Barack Obama's fundraising total, spanning a campaign that began in February 2007, is a record-shattering $750 million - more than what both major-party nominees brought in the last presidential election. President George W. Bush and Democratic nominee John Kerry raised $648 million between them for the 2004 election, inclusive of the $74.6 million in federal funds each received for the general election.

Earlier, through October 15, Obama reported raising $642 million. The latest total, which is to be reported to the Federal Election Commission on Friday, includes contributions through November 24. Bloomberg reports that the filing will show that the Obama campaign brought in $300 million for the general election, compared to the $84.1 million in public financing accepted by Republican John McCain that barred him from raising private funds.

However, McCain, 72, narrowed the gap with financial support from the Republican National Committee. Through October 15, the RNC raised $364 million and spent $53.3 million to boost McCain's candidacy. Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee raised $221 million and spent $1.1 million to help Obama.

Obama, 47, happens to be the first major-party candidate since public financing was passed in the post-Watergate reforms to reject public financing - in fact, shunning taxpayer funding for the general election gave him a huge financial advantage over his rival McCain.

The Nielsen Co reports that during the last six weeks of the campaign, Obama ran twice as many commercials as McCain.