NEW YORK - Mayor Michael Bloomberg has blown through a record $18.6 million of his own cash on his campaign for a third term, nearly double what he had spent by this point in the race four years ago.

Finance reports prepared by the campaign and released Friday show the billionaire independent - who is the richest man in New York City - has poured about half of his total so far into television, print and radio ads.

By this time in 2005, Bloomberg had spent $9.8 million and had not begun advertising. In the early months of his campaign that year, most of his money went toward polling and building an extensive voter database.

This year, the mayor began advertising on television in April. His ads, which are popping up all over the airwaves, focus mostly on the economy.

The mayor is also spending millions on consultants, polling and salaries for his staff. And he takes care of small expenses for his campaign staffers, like parking tickets and many of their meals. He has already spent tens of thousands of dollars on food, including hundreds on Chinese takeout and barbecue for the office.

Bloomberg is shattering his own spending records amid what appear to be extremely favorable conditions for his re-election.

His approval rating has hovered in the 60s for several years - even while he makes budget cuts and proposes recession-era tax hikes.