More than 1 million people have donated money to help President Obama win a second term, his campaign announced today.

A giant ticker on the campaign’s website – BarackObama.com – surpassed the milestone shortly after 4 p.m. ET.

In an email to supporters earlier in the day, Obama praised his network of grassroots contributors for helping to set his campaign financing apart from that of his Republican challengers.

“No matter what our opponents do, and however many people end up becoming a part of this campaign — this first million will always be the group that put this movement in the best position possible for the fights ahead,” Obama said.  ”None of us can do this alone. We’ve always relied on each other, not Washington lobbyists or corporate interests, to build our campaign.”

Obama does not accept campaign contributions from registered lobbyists or political action committees. None of the Republican candidates has made a similar pledge.

During the 2007-2008 campaign cycle, an estimated 3 million Americans opened their wallets in support of Obama.

Obama aides say topping one million donors by this point in the 2012 campaign puts them well ahead the record pace for donor engagement they set four years ago.

The majority of contributors to Obama are small-dollar donors, giving $200 or less, according to the campaign’s Federal Election Commission filings.  The average donation in the 3rd quarter was $56, Obama aides said.

“I did a lot of online giving,” said Renee Michaux an Obama supporter from Lenoir, N.C.  ”I gave through text message a few times. Those were easier. I’m a single parent, have a daughter in college. So I just do$10 at a time, and it adds up. Ive given probably about $400 this year.”

Obama raised $42 million between July and the end of September.