World | Updated Feb 11, 2008 at 11:50am IST

US presidential polls: All about big bucks

Washington: US presidential polls have been marked by various changing trends. Nine months away from actual voting and the US presidential poll is already being touted as the most expensive billion-dollar poll ever.

“This is the most expensive US presidential election ever. This is the first one that will cross the billion-dollar mark. That's how much the candidates will raise and spend, between each other, we predict,” says Massie Ritsch from the Center for Responsive Politics.

The non-partisan, non-profit center for responsive politics has been following the money trail for 25-years.

Its website, opensecrets.org shows that even before a single vote was cast in the primaries, the candidates had raised and spent more money than in seven of the last eight elections.

However, collectively, up to December 31, the candidates raised $582 million and spent $ 481 million. Top fundraiser in 2007, Hillary Clinton had about $ 115 million with Barak Obama close behind with $102 million.

Republican Mitt Romney filled his coffers with 88 and a half million dollars. This was twice as much as his rival John Mccain, who defeated Mitt. It is clear that money is not everything in the polls.

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