Likely Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama raised $52 million in June, easily trumping Republican rival Sen. John McCain’s $22 million last month — although the Democratic Party still lags behind the GOP in the amount of campaign cash it has in the bank.

The $52 million is Obama’s second-best fundraising month of the year - he raised $55 million in February.

The Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee ended June with a combined total of $92.3 million in the bank, the Associated Press reported. Obama reported $72 million cash on hand and the DNC $20.3 million.

While the figures represent a remarkable jump for the DNC, the party still lags McCain’s presidential campaign and the Republican Party. Last week, McCain reported raising more than $22 million in June. Together, the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee began July with about $95 million in the bank.

In an e-mail to supporters Thursday morning, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe touted the Illinois senator’s sky-high fundraising levels while also acknowledging that “we remain at a massive disadvantage to our opponents” while soliciting fresh donations.

“I know this isn’t the first time we’ve asked you for financial support, and it won’t be the last,” Plouffe wrote.
“While Mr. Obama’s $52 million haul is significantly higher, he also faces a bigger fund-raising burden because of his decision to not accept public financing,” The New York Times wrote.

Obama decided to opt out of public financing in June, a move expected to him more freedom to raise funds privately.