Barack Obama Makes Huge Jump In Donations.

Leading Democratic fundraisers predict that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) will raise hundreds of millions of dollars over the next few months if he opts out of public financing and begins raising money for the general election.

Specifically, they say Obama could raise $100 million in June and could attract 2.5 million to 3 million new donors to his campaign.

These fundraisers say Obama could increase his fundraising dramatically because of three factors: a boost of enthusiasm among Obama donors following his clinching of the nomination; the migration of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) donors to his camp; and the mobilization of big Democratic donors who have given little so far this year.

Record-breaking projections give Obama strong incentive to pass up $85 million in public funds that his opponent, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), has said he would accept.

The question of whether to accept public financing has become a quandary for Obama. He appeared to pledge earlier in the campaign that he would if the Republican nominee did the same. Obama’s aides now claim he merely pledged to “pursue” a fundraising agreement with the Republican nominee.

Though political watchdog groups such as Democracy 21 have pressed Obama to accept government financing, he has resisted because the law would restrict him to spending only as much as McCain — $85 million —between the end of August and Election Day. Democratic fundraisers say Obama could outspend McCain by a margin of 3 to 1, or more, if he skipped taxpayer-subsidized funding.

“One hundred million dollars this June — it’s definitely within reach,” said Wade Randlett, who has raised more than $200,000 for Obama.“