Barack Obama the Democratic nominee for President of the United States is expected to raise 1 billion dollars (US) according to Phil Noble the head of politicsonline and adviser to Barack Obama.

The staggering amount of money in comparison to previous elections in the US is down to what Noble describes the maximization of internet technology, using forums like Facebook, Bebo, Myspace and others to recruit support and use them to send funds. Barack Obama has already 2-3 million active canvassers on the internet of which many of those contribute funds on monthly basis. The Obama "war chest" has already exceeded $250 million and by August this will easily double according to Democrat sources contacted by thelondondailynews.com. In comparison John Kerry in 2004 for the Democrats had around 100,000 active canvassers in the US.

In London the Democrats Abroad organised a function at the home of Elizabeth Murdoch raising in one day £400,000.

The average war chest in general elections in the UK is around £50 million with much of the money coming from trade unions or wealthy donors.