Feb. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Hillary Clinton raised more than $35 million in February in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, more than twice her total for the previous month, her campaign said.

``We have the resources to play in the big states coming up and states beyond,'' said Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe.

Her opponent Barack Obama has exceeded that, collecting more than $40 million so far in February, two officials for his campaign said. Obama's total may reach $50 million by the time the month ends tomorrow, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

``I have no idea how much money we've raised, but I know we've been paying our bills and I think we've done fairly well,'' Obama told reporters while campaigning today in Texas.

Presidential candidates must report their February figures to the Federal Election Commission by March 20.

Peter Daou, Clinton's campaign Internet director, said that all but $1 million raised by the New York senator's campaign this month could be spent for the primaries. He said 300,000 people contributed in February, more than 200,000 of them first- time donors.

`Crusty Conservative'

``I was sure excited by the generosity of thousands of new donors,'' Clinton said later at a press conference in Hanging Rock, Ohio. ``A lot of them sent e-mails with why they were contributing. One gentleman wrote in saying, `I'm a crusty conservative but I'm supporting you.'''

Jonathan Mantz, Clinton's finance director, asked her fundraisers to come up with another $5,000 each before the next round of primaries on March 4. Even without the extra money, the $35 million ``is more than enough money to have us compete,'' he said on a conference call with reporters and fundraisers.

About $30 million was raised online, much of it by supporters who decided to contribute once they read that Clinton herself had loaned her campaign $5 million in January, McAuliffe said. ``We are stronger than we were 30 days ago, and we will be stronger 30 days from now than we are now,'' he said.

In addition to the loan, Clinton raised $13.9 million last month. Senator Obama of Illinois raised $36.1 million last month, a January record for a Democratic presidential candidate, and earlier this week his total number of donors surpassed 1 million, his campaign said.

The fundraising blitz gave both candidates millions to spend in the March 4 contests in Ohio and Texas, as well as Rhode Island and Vermont. Obama has won the last 11 primaries and caucuses.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at jsalant@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: February 28, 2008 21:15 EST