WASHINGTON, May 16 — US President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign and Democratic groups affiliated with it raised US$43.6 million (RM135.5 million) in April, a decrease from the previous month despite the start of a robust general election campaign against Republican Mitt Romney.

Ninety-eight per cent of the donations were less than US$250 in April and the average donation came in at US$50, the campaign said in a statement released on Twitter.

More than 437,000 people donated last month and over 169,000 were first-time donors, it said.

Obama’s (picture) campaign and its affiliates raised more than US$53 million in March. — Reuters