Giving Money to a Candidate for Public Office

I believe in the United States there is a limit on how many dollars a person may give to the campaign fund of a candidate for public office.

Is it legal for a person to give money to a person who happens to be a candidate for public office, a sum of money greater than that which is permissible for him to give to the candidate's campaign fund.

The candidate would then deposit the money in his personal checking account (for the money was given to him personally).

As the candidate is permitted to spend an unlimited amount of his own money on his election, he would then use the money that was donated to him.

Is that legal?