The number of donors who raise big money for President Barack Obama jumped in the last three months as he builds a war chest for what will likely be the costliest presidential election ever. 
 
 At least 41 people have raised at least half a million dollars for the president, compared to 27 in Obama's first report, according to an analysis of campaign data released Friday. 
 
 The big donors, known as "bundlers," are typically well-connected people who pledge to gather tens of thousands of dollars for a candidate. 
 
 Former Goldman Sachs executive Jon Corzine and Dreamworks Animation chief executive executive Jeffrey Katzenberg are on Obama's elite list and raised $500,000 or more. 
 
 The president's campaign finance report shows he can still pull in major cash despite a stagnant economy, dipping approval ratings and grumblings among some liberal supporters that he has not done enough for their cause. 
 
 While still keeping ties to his famed small donor operation, Obama is relying heavily on major donors early on to finance a campaign that is likely to break records in spending, according to Anthony Corrado, a campaign finance expert at Colby College in Maine. 
 
 "The emphasis has been on doing larger dollar fundraising events particularly asking for $2,500," Corrado said. "Events like this help him to raise substantial amounts of money for the campaign allowing him to exceed his pace for 2007." 
 
 GOP ahead in polls 
 
 Obama and the Democratic National Committee have raised more than $150 million so far for his bid for a second term, far outstripping Obama's Republican rivals. 
 
 But fundraising prowess doesn't guarantee victory for the incumbent, who is fighting for re-election amid a economic stagnation and high unemployment. 
 
 Opinion polls show that Obama will have a tough time winning re-election next year. A Gallup poll released on Friday showed that U.S. registered voters, by 46 percent to 38 percent, are more likely to vote for an unnamed Republican presidential candidate than for Obama in 2012. Obama recently called himself the "underdog" in the race. 
 
 Bundlers raised about a third of Obama's war chest so far. 
 
 Earlier on Friday, Republican Mitt Romney posted $14 million for the quarter, second to fellow Republican Texas Governor Rick Perry's $17 million. Obama's comparable fundraising figure for the three months was $43 million. 
 
 Obama voluntarily releases a list of bundlers. No other major candidate has done so. 
 
 The president regularly brings in more than $1 million in a single evening of fundraising, as supporters donate the legal maximum of $35,800 to his campaign and the Democratic party for the chance to have dinner and take a picture with the president. 
 
 UBS executive Robert Wolf and hedge fund executive Orin Kramer are also big Obama fundraisers. 
 
 'Doing well with small donors' 
 
 At least 40 percent of all the money raised by the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee last quarter came from those giving in increments of $200 or less. 
 
 The Obama campaign has been touting its connections to mainstream Americans who send smaller checks, calling itself a grassroots effort. 
 
 "They are still doing well with small donors," said Darrell West, director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution, a thank tank. 
 
 The campaign said that in the third quarter about 600,000 people donated to the campaign. 
 
 Much has been made of dipping support among Wall Street for Obama. Some financial executives, including hedge fund managers, have complained about Obama's tax and financial regulation policies and his comments about the wealthy, at times calling them "fat cats." 
 
 In the second quarter, more Wall Street money did flow to Romney, who has deep ties there. Still, Obama boosted the number of bundlers with Wall Street ties in that period. 
 
 The Republican candidates' reports, due Saturday, offer the first broad look at their financial health. 
 
 They are the first official tallies of donations and expenses for contenders Perry, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and businessman Herman Cain, who said he raised $2.8 million this quarter. 
 
 Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, had nearly $15 million on hand in addition to the roughly $14 million in contributions during the July-September period that he reported Friday. 
 
 Perry, who briefly surged to the top of the Republican presidential field this summer, has roughly the same in the bank. 
 
 Not counting major support from Republican-leaning super political action committees, the virtual tie between Romney and Perry for cash on hand means the two have similar amounts to spend on ads and travel just months before heading into key primary states. 
 
 Perry is expected to dig into his campaign funds to buy TV ads to Romney's record on health care, abortion, gay rights and job creation. His campaign suggested this week that the moment for a barrage of attack ads was near. 
 
 Romney, the former governor of a predominantly Democratic state, has been attacked for his shifting positions on social issues that are held dear by conservative voters who dominate the Republican primary season. ||||| 5 days ago 
 
 (CNN) - Put down that checkbook: Mitt Romney's formal fund-raiser season is over. 
 
 Just over two weeks out from Election Day, the Republican presidential candidate held on Saturday night his final formal fund-raising event, spokesman Rick Gorka said. 
 
 
 
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 Romney has attended fund-raisers from coast to coast - and even overseas in London and Israel - on his quest to win the White House. In total, he has raised more than $361.3 million this cycle, Federal Election Commission records through the end of September show. 
 
 From these events came a number of headlines, such as the candidate's 47% remarks and the detailed suggestion of several government departments he might scale back or close. 
 
 Between fund-raising events in August, the candidate told reporters he would rather be on the campaign trail, but fund-raising would be essential to remain competitive with President Barack Obama. Through the end of September, Obama raised more than $567.4 million, according to FEC records. 
 
 "That's a challenge with a president who blew through the federal spending limits," Romney said. "It means that campaigns now have to spend a disproportionate amount of time fund-raising. You appreciate all the help you get, but you wish you could spend more time on the campaign trail." 
 
 Saturday's final fund-raisers - which included events at two separate locations for donors of different levels - were held at private homes and reporters were not allowed to attend. 
 
 The first half was held at the home of Dwight Schar, who is part owner of the Washington Redskins. The second half was at the home of billionaire investor Wilbur Ross. 
 
 Although he will no longer attend formal fund-raising events, the GOP candidate will continue to accept donations through his website, by mail and via text message. 
 
 His running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, will hold fund-raising events this week. 
 
 – CNN's Gregory Wallace and Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this report
– President Obama's big-money "bundlers" are on the rise, with at least 41 supporters now having raised more than $500,000 each for the president, reports MSNBC. That's a sizeable jump from the 27 bundlers—well-connected supporters who help candidates raise big money—reported three months ago. It's also a sign that we're getting closer to the 2012 election season, predicted to be the most expensive ever. "The emphasis has been on doing larger dollar fundraising events, particularly asking for $2,500," said a campaign finance expert. "Events like this help him to raise substantial amounts of money for the campaign allowing him to exceed his pace for 2007." Obama and the DNC have raised more than $165 million so far, well ahead of the Republican field—however, the really big money of Wall Street is increasingly lining up behind Mitt Romney and the GOP, reports the New York Times. Since the spring, Romney has raised more than $1.5 million from banks, hedge funds, and other financial firms; Obama, however, has gotten just $270,000. Goldman Sachs employees alone gave Obama more than $1 million in 2008, but so far in this election cycle, he's gotten just $45,000; Romney, on the other hand, has received $350,000 from them.