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Every election sets a new record for money raised and spent, and this one has already done so: In just the first nine months of last year, President George W. Bush raised $85 million and is on track to raise more than $200 million this primary season.

That puts him miles ahead of any other candidate, but John Kerry and Howard Dean are breaking new ground as well -- they've both passed up federal matching funds because accepting the money would have forced them to limit their primary spending to a mere $45 million each. They figure they can raise much more on their own, and then spend it all.

Where does all that money come from? And who may be expecting access and favors should their man win? Bush's biggest donors in this election are mainly financial firms, led by Merrill Lynch. John Kerry's biggest donors are law firms and financial outfits, while Howard Dean has received most from big corporationa and universities. Nearly all of John Edwards' biggest supporters are, like him, lawyers.

Click on a candidate's name below to see his 2004 presidential campaign's largest donors to date.

Source: Center for Public Integrity