Obama Raised $29M Last Month

President Obama raised a healthy $29.1 million for his campaign and the Democrats last month, bringing his total haul for this election to $250 million. Some 98% of last month's donations were of $250 or less, the campaign said. Nonpartisan analysts said donations of $200 or less made up 48% of Obama's 2011 contributions, compared to 9% for Mitt Romney.

The president's latest fundraising effort, a trip through California and Washington, was expected to bring in more than $8 million. Meanwhile, his approval numbers have been climbing amid glimmers of hope for the economy. GOP rivals have been bogged down in their own contest, limiting their attacks on Obama, the AP notes. But it adds that he repeatedly tells supporters that the election is "not going to be easy because, first of all, I'm older and I'm grayer"—and it's been "a tough three years" for Americans. (More President Obama stories.)