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WASHINGTON — Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York ended the first half of the year with more than $30 million each for the presidential primaries, a formidable financial performance for the two leading Democratic White House contenders.

Obama reported having about $34 million in primary cash on hand; Clinton reported $33 million.

Obama led in fundraising for the period covering April though June, raising nearly $32 million for the primary election and about $1 million for the general election, according to reports filed Sunday with the Federal Election Commission.

Clinton raised about $21.5 million for the primary and $5.6 million for the general election, her campaign said.

Neither candidate can use the general election money unless he or she wins the nomination.

John Edwards, the Democrat closest to the two fundraising leaders, reported having $12 million in the bank for the primary, an increase of more than $2 million over his cash on hand at the end of March.

While trailing Obama and Clinton, Edwards retained his place ahead of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut.

Dodd on Sunday reported raising nearly $3.3 million with nearly $6.4 million in the bank. Richardson on Saturday reported raising $7 million in the second quarter and having a similar amount in the bank.

With the early nominating contests still six months away, the campaigns have focused much of their attention on fundraising. While money is a measure of organization and early appeal, it is hardly predictive of how nomination contests will turn out.

Among Republicans filing Sunday, Ron Paul, the Texas congressman running a long-shot campaign, reported raising nearly $2.4 million from April through June and ended the quarter with a similar amount in the bank.

The total put Paul ahead of Arizona Sen. John McCain in cash on hand.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who are leading the Republican field in money and in public opinion polls, reported their finances on Friday. .