President Barack Obama’s camp, together with the Democratic National Committee, announced that it managed to collect over $68 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Obama for America raised more than $42 million while the DNC collected $24 million. The announcement was made by OFA Campaign Manager Jim Messina via a video emailed to supporters. Obama

Messina said that President Obama’s grassroots campaign has been successful so far with 1.3 million donors. The average donation size was around $55. Messina warned that it is not true that Obama’s camp doesn’t accept small donations.

It is made known that the Obama campaign doesn’t get money from Washington lobbyists and super PACs. But there is a super PAC, Priorities USA Action, which was founded by two former Obama White House staffers. It supports the president’s reelection bid.

The Obama camp sent out the email after the president attended fundraisers. He first went to the University of Illinois at Chicago where tickets cost $100 each. There are several tickets priced at $44 for the campaign’s Gen44 program, which is aimed at young adults.

Obama then went to a fundraiser at a private residence where tickets cost $35,800 per pair. Then a third fundraiser took place at another private residence with tickets priced at $7,500.