SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Supporters and opponents of a ballot initiative that would outlaw same-sex marriage in California have funneled $41.2 million into the race, more than the combined total spent in the 24 states where similar measures have gone before voters since 2004.

Campaign finance figures show supporters of the same-sex marriage ban have taken a significant lead in fund-raising even though Proposition 8 has lagged in public opinion polls. ProtectMarriage.com reported taking in $25.4 million through Sept. 30 of this year compared to the $15.8 million in donations raised by the main committee opposing the measure.

“It shows there is tremendous grassroots support for what we are trying to do,” said Frank Schubert, co-manager of the “Yes on 8” campaign.

Schubert said more than 60,000 people and businesses have given money to help pass the initiative, which would amend the state Constitution to limit marriage to a man and a woman. He provided the figures Sept. 29 before the group filed its official fund-raising report with the secretary of state’s office to meet the reporting deadline.

Steve Smith, manager of Equality for All, predicted the bank accounts for the two sides would even up by Election Day on Nov. 4. He noted when the last campaign finance reports were filed at the end of July, the proposition’s opponents were ahead.

“What’s happening is a little seesaw battle. I think by the end it’s going to come down to a million (difference) one way or another,” Smith said.

Both sides have set aside more than $10 million for television advertisements and started airing their second round of ads this week. The fund-raising advantage Proposition 8’s supporters have at this point is reflected in the remaining cash on hand they reported having last week – $12.8 million for the “yes” camp, $1.8 million for the “no” side.

According to figures compiled by the National Organization on Money in State Politics, a little less than $33 million was spent on campaigns to pass or defeat same-sex marriage bans in the 24 states where they appeared on ballots in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Supporters of same-sex marriage had the fund-raising edge in all of them, but voters approved all but one.

With a month to go until the election, fund-raising by the two sides in the California campaign already has well exceeded that amount. By comparison, the most expensive same-sex marriage fight before now was in Colorado, where opponents and supporters spent $6.8 million in 2006.

“For an issue like this, it’s a lot of money,” Rachel Weiss, a spokeswoman for the national Organization on Money in State Politics said. “California is in its own universe.”

The big money Proposition 8 is attracting reflects both California’s size and the importance religious conservatives and gay rights advocates are placing on the election’s outcome. The upcoming vote marks the first time voters have been asked to ban same-sex marriage in a place where it already is legal.

Both opponents and supporters of Proposition 8 have secured six- or seven-figure contributions from individuals and institutions.

Leading the giving on the “yes” side were the Catholic fraternal organization the Knights of Columbus ($1.2 million), Irvine banking heir Howard Ahmanson Jr.’s Fieldstead and Co. foundation ($900,000) and the late Bryn Mawr, Pa., investor John Templeton ($900,000).

On the “no” side, retired Brooklyn, N.Y., hedge fund manager Robert W. Wilson gave $1.2 million, followed by GeoCities founder David Bohnett ($1.1 million), WordPerfect software founder Bruce Bastian ($1 million) and Cleveland philanthropist David Maltz ($1 million).