Presidential candidates raised more through the end of June than all of 2003, the year before the last presidential election, according to the Campaign Finance Institute.
     During the first six months of 2007 candidates raised more ($277 million) for the primaries than all candidates raised through the whole year of 2003 ($272 million).
    The money is also flying out of the bank at a fast clip.
    Faced with an accelerated primary schedule in which the de facto nominee from each party could be known as early as the first week of February, the candidates are also spending money at a record pace.
    During the first six months of 2007, Republican candidate Mitt Romney spent $32.3 million, which was more than then-Democratic hopeful Howard Dean spent in all of 2003 ($31.7 million) and almost as much as George W. Bush in all of 2003 ($33.6 million).