Obama Racks Up Funds as Super PAC Takes Aim

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee jointly raised $43.6 million in April, the president's campaign said Wednesday.

The haul was a 21.6% decrease from March's fundraising total, but close to February's amount of $45 million.

"One of the most important things we can do is get our arms around the fact this election is going to be close, given the historic challenges the nation faced when the president first came into office," Jim Messina, Obama's campaign manager, said in a YouTube video.

While Obama continued to rake in campaign cash, Karl Rove-led super PAC Crossroads GPS geared up to launch a $25 million ad campaign against the president in 10 states, according to The Associated Press.

The amount matches how much the Obama campaign said it plans to spend over airwaves during the same time span, according to Politico.

Obama could do even better this month as May has already seen the president announce his support of same-sex marriage and attend a huge Hollywood fundraiser.

Obama netted some $15 million at the George Clooney-hosted gathering and reports say the same-sex marriage endorsement could bring substantial money off the sidelines and into the president's corner.

-- Written by Joe Deaux in New York.

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