US election: Five campaign cash comparisons

What could you buy with the campaign money raised by both US presidential candidates?

Combined total raised

$928,638,361

Barack Obama $567,332,553 Percentage raised 61.1%

Mitt Romney $361,305,808 Percentage raised 38.9%
The $928,638,361 (£580m) raised by both presidential candidates is equivalent to the cost of:

4.4

F-35 fighter jets

Cost per unit: $212m

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet, with its cutting-edge technology and vertical landing capability, is one of the most expensive and advanced fighter planes. The US government has ordered 29 F-35s for the financial year of 2013 for the US Navy and US Air Force.

Source: US Department of Defense

Jets per candidate

OBAMA 2.7

ROMNEY 1.7
The $928,638,361 (£580m) raised by both presidential candidates is equivalent to the cost of:

693,531

US citizens' annual medicare*

Cost per unit: $1,339

Medicare is a US health insurance programme designed to help protect people aged 65 and over from the high costs of healthcare. It also covers patients with permanent kidney failure and with certain disabilities. In 2011, Medicare covered 49m people at a total cost of $549bn.

*Average medical expenses (plan B) only, excluding hospital expenses

Source: Medicare

Number of people provided with one year of medicare per candidate

OBAMA 423,699

ROMNEY 269,833
The $928,638,361 (£580m) raised by both presidential candidates is equivalent to the cost of:

0.4

Mars rover missions

Cost per unit: $2.5bn

The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover, which landed on the Red Planet in August, has been tasked with determining whether Mars has ever had the conditions to support life. During its two-year mission, costing $2.5bn, it will use specialist equipment - including cameras, lasers and an on-board laboratory - to analyse rocks, soil and the atmosphere.

Source: Nasa

Mars missions per candidate

OBAMA 0.23

ROMNEY 0.14
The $928,638,361 (£580m) raised by both presidential candidates is equivalent to the cost of:

1.8 times

Walmart's weekly income

Cost per unit: $510,730,000

Walmart, the world's largest retailer, has stores in 27 countries, employs 2.2 million people and serves 200 million customers every week. The company operates under various names worldwide, including Asda in the UK. In the year up to January 2012, its net sales totalled $443.9bn and operating income came to $26.6bn.

Source: Walmart

Number of weeks of Walmart-equivalent income per candidate

OBAMA 1.11

ROMNEY 0.71
The $928,638,361 (£580m) raised by both presidential candidates is equivalent to the cost of:

17.8

Years of J-Lo's earnings

Cost per unit: $52m

Number one on Forbes Celeb 100 list for the first time, American performer Jennifer Lopez earned $52m over the year to May 2012. Apart from her singing and acting career, the star also has perfume and clothing lines, as well as various endorsements. In 2012 she launched her first international music tour.

Source: Forbes

Years of J-Lo's earnings per candidate

OBAMA 10.9

ROMNEY 6.9