The cost of campaigning for President in the 2008 Presidential Election has risen significantly in the past decade. In fact, it has more than doubled from 1996 with $448.9 million as total costs. In order to be taken as a serious candidate in the 2008 Presidential Election, a candidate would need to raise a minimum of $100 million by the end of 2007 from fund raising and contributions.
Currently Illinois Senator Barack Obama estimates his campaign will have received between $18 to $19 million in contributions in the 3rd quarter. So far he has raised $58.9 million in the 2008 Presidential Election.
Hilliary Clinton totals $63.1 million in her 2008 Presidential Election campaign. We still have the 4th quarter, so we have not seen anything yet. The next closest candidate was former Gov. Mitt Romney, with 44.4 million in contributions. Will the two candidates who raises the most money in their campaign be the ones who will be running in the 2008 Presidential Election? That does not seem right, but again, time will tell.