Obama campaign announces $181-million haul in September

WASHINGTON -- Spurred on by the Democratic National Convention, new donate-by-text capability and an expanding lead in state and national polls, President Obama raised $181 million for his reelection effort in September, his campaign announced Saturday.

The immense haul pushes the total raised for the incumbent’s campaign this cycle to $947 million, making it a near certainty he’ll surpass $1 billion raised for his campaign, the Democratic National Committee and other affiliated campaigns.

The announcement comes a day before the president is set to travel to Los Angeles for a trio of fundraisers, including one with President Clinton and a concert featuring Stevie Wonder and other performers.

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An email to supporters from campaign manager Jim Messina said that 1.8 million people donated an average of $53 each in September, including 567,000 people giving for the first time.

Since Obama launched his reelection campaign in April 2011, 3,922,420 people have donated to the campaign, he said.

“Day in and day out, what gives the president confidence and inspiration is knowing that you have his back -- that matters. We’re all going to do the best we can over next 31 days to honor that support,” Messina wrote.

The Romney campaign has not announced its September fundraising numbers yet. The Republican nominee had raised $669 million through August between his campaign, the Republican National Committee and a joint fundraising committee.

About 6,000 Obama supporters are expected at a “30 Days to Victory” concert at the Nokia Theatre on Sunday. Jon Bon Jovi, Earth Wind and Fire, Katy Perry and Jennifer Hudson will join Wonder in performing. George Clooney, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Democratic convention keynote speaker Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio, will also deliver remarks.

The president will travel to San Francisco on Monday for additional fundraising events.

“We need every last dollar to continue to build the largest grass-roots campaign in history, communicate with the American people and compete against the special interest money flooding in from the Republican super PACs,” campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.