WASHINGTON — President Obama yesterday proved he can still rake in the campaign cash.

He collected a combined $53 million last month for his re-election run and the Democratic Party, according to federal filings.

As the general election campaign gets under way against presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney, Obama’s latest fund-raising totals put him on pace to match the record-breaking $750 million he raised in the 2008 race.

The campaign boasted that much of the money came from small donors and first-time donors, with an average contribution of just over $50.

“This really is how this works: people building this organization five and 10 bucks at a time to take on Mitt Romney,” Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said in a video announcing the totals.