http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/3253347/US-election-2008-Top-25-turning-points-in-the-campaign-1---12.htmlAn excellent observation from across the pond.
12 Obama’s $150 million haul
Perhaps the first clue that Barack Obama was a serious contender came in the spring of 2007, when he started raising more money than Hillary Clinton. As the first billion-dollar election has rumbled on, Mr Obama has tapped more than four million donors, mostly for small amounts. After the primaries, Mr Obama controversially abandoned his commitment to the public funding of elections and the cap on spending that goes with it, freeing him to raise whatever he could. That decision was vindicated in spades in September, when he pulled in a staggering $150 million. As the election enters the most critical period, Mr Obama is outspending John McCain by three to one on advertising in swing states.