Barack Obama shattered all fundraising records in September, according to figures his campaign released yesterday, raising $150m to enable him to take his battle against John McCain to traditionally solid Republican states.

The Democratic nominee attracted 632,000 new donors last month who gave an average of $86 (€64, £50) apiece and is poised to outspend his rival in the remaining 15 days of the most epic and expensive presidential race in US -history.