This is politics. Those were the words Mitt Romney used to deflect calls for him to ask the super PAC run by his former campaign aides to stop running negative advertisements against his opponent Newt Gingrich. This came one day after Romney stated that he could not ask the group to stop airing attack ads because it would violate laws prohibiting coordination between candidates and independent groups.
Romney's full statement: "Obviously, there are these coordination rules, you're not allowed to coordinate, but I'm sure I could go out and say, 'Hey please don't do anything negative.' But you know, this is politics, and if you can't stand the heat in this little kitchen, wait until the Obama's Hell's Kitchen turns up the heat." [HuffPost]
Newt Gingrich, always looking for another reason to keep talking, challenges Romney to a debate over attack ads: "Look, I'll tell you what. If he wants to test the heat, I'll meet him anywhere in Iowa next week one on one, 90 minutes, no moderator." [The Hill]
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Political action committees filed their monthly reports covering the month of November yesterday. Who gave the most to members of Congress in November? Leading the way were the National Association of Realtors ($523,600), National Association of Broadcasters ($253,000), and Darden Restaurants ($172,000).
Republican and Democratic party committees ran almost even for the month of November. The Democrats barely ran ahead by raising $13.23 million to the Republicans $13.14 million. Both RNC and NRSC outraised their Democratic counterparts, but the DCCC raised more than $1 million more than the NRCC to put the Democrats slightly ahead overall.
Need a present for your loved one, kid, or grandparent? Why not buy NewtGingrich.com for them? A Democratic super PAC is selling!
Super PACs are setting themselves up as the "bad cops" of the 2012 race. [Politico]
A pro-Rick Santorum super PAC thinks that Santorum has no where else to go but up. They are planning on spending another $150,000 to pump up Santorum in Iowa. [The Daily]
CAMPAIGN VIDEOS
Help us populate our list of campaign videos. Send any notable TV, radio or web ads that you see to Fundrace. Send your submissions to paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.
Committee: Restore Our Future
Candidate opposed: Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry
Spot: "Too Much" -- This pro-Romney super PAC branches out after three ads targeting Newt Gingrich to include Rick Perry in this new ad. The two Romney challengers are targeted for their positions in support of some kind of immigration reform ("amnesty," according to the ad) and for questionable ethics. Gingrich is hit for his ethics violation while serving as Speaker of the House. Perry takes heat for non-officially "retiring" from his job so that he can take home a pension payment along with his annual salary as Texas governor.
Link: [http://youtu.be/lBg8OtR74qM]
Market: Iowa.
Buy: Part of a $2 million+ ad buy.
Committee: Make Us Great Again
Candidate opposed: Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney
Spot: "Newsreel" -- In the style of a 1940s newsreel, this ad from the pro-Perry super PAC attacks Gingrich and Romney for their conservative apostasies. It is the first ad from Make Us Great Again that attacks other candidates. Link: [http://youtu.be/iQcSxvdmq84]
Market: Iowa and South Carolina
Buy: ~$175,000 in Iowa, unknown in S.C.
Committee: Rick Perry for President
Spot: "American Story" -- Anita Perry dictates this ad about the story behind her relationship with husband Rick. Like many of the Republican candidates this ad seeks to portray the softer, family side of the candidate for Christmas audiences.
Link: [http://youtu.be/FEKAsMdIiZA]
Market: Unknown
Buy: Undisclosed
Committee: Mitt Romney for President
Spot: "Character" -- Ann Romney wants you to know about her husband's ability to make tough decisions. She says, "If you really want to know how a person will operate look at how they've lived their life." This is another soft ad in time for Christmas.
Link: [http://youtu.be/lkrqQrlv9YU]
Market: Unknown
Buy: Undisclosed
Committee: Scott Walker for Governor
Spot: "Holiday Spirit" -- Scott Walker and wife Tonnette discuss what holiday spirit means to them and to Wisconsin. Tonnette Walker says, "In this season of peace, our hope, is that we can put our differences aside and move forward together."
Link: [http://youtu.be/eHRzLCTOo4g]
Market: Unknown
Buy: Undisclosed
Committee: Virginia Democratic Party
Spot: "George 'Baby Newt' Allen" -- In a preview of what a general election campaign by Newt Gingrich would mean for down ballot races, the Virginia Democratic Party cuts this ad of Republican senate candidate George Allen echoing things said by Gingrich. Many of them are lines that would be repeated by any Republican running for office.
Link: [http://youtu.be/P1Murs7RVCk]
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.
TRACKING INDEPENDENT SPENDING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE:
These numbers represent spending by independent groups, like super PACs and non-profits, to support or oppose a particular candidate for the presidency in 2012. Fundrace will update this spending daily to help show which candidates are gaining from the proliferation of independent groups in this coming election.
Newt Gingrich (R), $75,487 to support, $2,513,978 to oppose. (+$75,487)
Rick Perry (R), $2,429,484 to support, $0 to oppose.
Jon Huntsman (R), $1,864,956 to support, $0 to oppose.
Herman Cain (R), $462,217 to support, $0 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $0 to support, $374,481 to oppose. (+16,552)
Mitt Romney (R), $0 to support, $329,473 to oppose.
Rick Santorum (R), $200,950 to support, $0 to oppose.
Gary Johnson (R), $518 to support, $0 to oppose.
RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
Winning Our Future, $34,965 to support Newt Gingrich for President.
Strong America Now Super PAC, $40,552 to support Newt Gingrich for President.
Michigan Republican Party, $16,552 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, $11,160 to support Suzanne Bonamici for Congress.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, $11,160 to oppose Rob Cornilles for Congress.
RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS
Gregory Industries PAC, Canton, Ohio, Treasurer: Joseph Weaver.
Porter Gordon Silver PAC, Washington, D.C., Treasurer: Chrissie Hastie.
Ron Paul Volunteers, Miami, Fla., Treasurer: Heather Roos. (Super PAC supporting Ron Paul.)
AES Corporation PAC, Arlington, Va., Treasurer: Mark Miller.
Voice of the People PAC, Flagler Beach, Fla., Treasurer: Kenneth Durocher.
ASFPAC, New York, N.Y., Treasurer: Thomas Deutsch.
Send tips, hints, submissions, rumors to HuffPost Fundrace at paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.