WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrat John Edwards has joined the growing list of presidential candidates who are skipping public financing of their campaigns.

Edwards' decision, first reported Tuesday in USA Today, applies to both the primary and, if he wins the nomination, the general election. It will allow him to raise and spend unlimited private money.

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton also is forgoing the public funds, and several other candidates are expected to follow their lead.

Edwards spokesman Jonathan Prince said Edwards supports public financing for presidential campaigns and would require it if elected president. But he is skipping the current system to compete in what is expected to be the most expensive campaign in history.

Strategists from both parties had estimated last year that the 2008 race could cost each nominee $500 million -- far more than the Presidential Election Campaign Fund could afford. It is financed through the $3 checkoff on federal income tax returns.

The fund, which is expected to have about $200 million by the end of 2007, still would help pay for party presidential nominating conventions and assist primary candidates who do not raise large amounts of money.

While both President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry rejected public funding for their primary campaigns in 2004, they did accept $74.5 million each for the general election campaign. The funding for the general election was expected to reach $85 million for the major party candidates in 2008.