HUFFPOST FUNDRACE - The $11 Billion Election

$11 billion. That is the amount that the Federal Election Commission is predicting will be spent on the 2012 election. By comparison, the 2008 election cost $5.28 billion. We're talking about a doubling of the amount of money to be spent in the coming election. Get ready!

Is Mitt Romney's biggest ally in the Republican primary Ron Paul? Paul is going up with a major ad buy--$250,000--in South Carolina featuring a brutal attack on the rising Rick Santorum. Santorum is laid out as a "serial hypocrite," a "corporate lobbyist," and "Washington politician." The former Pennsylvania senator is blasted for taking the most lobbyist cash in Washington in 2006, promising to balance the budget while voting five times to raise the debt ceiling, opposing the Right to Work Act, and for stating explicitly that Congress had to spend the surpluses of the 1990s. [Politico]

The super PAC backing Rick Santorum in the GOP primary is dropping $190,000 on ads in South Carolina. The group's ads will air in the Greenville, Charleston and Columbia markets. [ABC]

Santorum is skipping New Hampshire TV and going up with a big buy in South Carolina.

Listen to Fundrace's Paul Blumenthal discuss the super PAC primary on WHYY's Radio Times show.

Santorum is set to get the support of a Catholic super PAC. [Slate]

Restore Our Future, the pro-Mitt Romney super PAC, is beating a dead horse at this point. They're out with more anti-Newt Gingrich mailers in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Rick Perry, polling in Buddy Roemer territory, is going up with more ads in South Carolina for some reason. [HuffPost]

The Obama campaign, eclipsing the organization of all GOP contestants, chugs along at a monster pace. [Bloomberg]

Timothy Egan is worth reading in the New York Times on super PACs and Newt.

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 [e-mail].

Committee: Ron Paul for President
Candidate opposed: Rick Santorum
Spot: "Betrayal" -- A brutal ad from the Ron Paul campaign knocking Rick Santorum for his ties to lobbyists, his votes on the debt ceiling, and his opposition to a right to work bill. The ad also labels Santorum "one of the most corrupt members of Congress."
Link: [http://youtu.be/5Aohgrn1peA]
Market: South Carolina.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Emergency Committee for Israel
Candidate opposed: Ron Paul
Spot: "We Can Do Better Than Ron Paul" -- The knives come out for Ron Paul in South Carolina with this ad from Gary Bauer's Emergency Committee for Israel. Bauer, a noted evangelical leader, is featured in the ad decrying Paul's "isolationist and conspiratorial" conservatism. Bauer blasts Paul for opposing Israel and being "hostile to our military."
Link: [http://youtu.be/8MX7gFB4KR0]
Market: South Carolina.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Red White And Blue Fund
Candidate supported: Rick Santorum
Spot: "Pride" -- Featuring footage of Santorum's post-Iowa caucus speech this ad from the pro-Santorum super PAC is set to air in South Carolina. The ad calls Santorum a "principled conservative" and, in a swipe at the rest of the field, "the conservative we can trust."
Link: [http://youtu.be/wXQMKBmGhYY]
Market: South Carolina.
Buy: ~$190,000.

Committee: MoveOn.org
Candidate opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "Does Mitt Romney Care About Jobs Or Just Making Money" -- A longer cut of the 30 second ad MoveOn is airing in New Hampshire, this web video features two Kansas City steel mill workers laid off after Bain Capital bought their company and closed the plant they had worked at for 30 years. Get ready for a lot of ads like this one if Romney is the GOP candidate.
Link: [http://youtu.be/YtV7vKDbU3A]
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.

Committee: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Candidate opposed: Rob Cornilles
Spot: "Rob Cornilles: Anti Choice Republican" -- The DCCC jumps into the special election in Oregon's First District to bash Republican Rob Cornilles for stating that he was endorsed by Oregon Right to Life, a pro-life group. Both Cornilles opponent, Susan Bonamicci and Emily's List have knocked Cornilles in separate ads for the same thing.
Link: [http://youtu.be/EejP7Lckld8]
Market: Oregon 1st District.
Buy: Undisclosed.

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), $982,082 to support, $4,470,935 to oppose. (+$89,961)
Rick Perry (R), $3,798,524 to support, $0 to oppose.
Jon Huntsman (R), $2,453,204 to support, $0 to oppose. (+$220,000)
Mitt Romney (R), $475,000 to support, $334,167 to oppose. (+$4,694)
Ron Paul (R), $750,734 to support, $80,825 to oppose. (Support: +$100,218, Oppose: $2,287)
Rick Santorum (R), $642,436 to support, $2,407 to oppose. (Support: +$12,701, Oppose: +$2,407)
Herman Cain (R), $462,217 to support, $0 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $0 to support, $417,919 to oppose.
Gary Johnson (R), $518 to support, $0 to oppose.

RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES

Our Destiny PAC, $220,000 to support Jon Huntsman for President.
Endorse Liberty, $100,218 to support Ron Paul for President.
Restore Our Future, $89,961 to oppose Newt Gingrich for President in Florida.
Leaders for Families, $12,701 to support Rick Santorum for President in New Hampshire.
DGA Action, $4,684 to oppose Mitt Romney for President.
DGA Action, $2,407 to oppose Rick Santorum for President.
DGA Action, $2,287 to oppose Ron Paul for President.

RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS

Stop This Insanity Inc Employee Leadership Fund, Washington, D.C., Treasurer: Dan Backer. (Super PAC)
Santa Rita SuperPAC, Dallas, Texas, Treasurer: Donald Huffines. (Super PAC supporting Ron Paul)
Young Americans for Liberty, Arlington, Va., Treasurer: Jeffrey Freeze.
Security Officers and Investigations LLC, Orinda, Calif., Treasurer: Archena Sharma.
Smallbizadvocates.org, Las Vegas, Nev., Treasurer: Robert Moss.
District of Columbia Federation of College Democrats, Washington, D.C., Treasurer: Ryan Fecteau.
National Grocers Association PAC, Arlington, Va., Treasurer: Gregory Ferrara.

Send tips, hints, submissions, rumors to HuffPost Fundrace at [e-mail].

Comments

[jcphd]

02:59 PM on 01/07/2012

speaking of silver spoons, Romney is John Kerry minus the military service.

[fyi2day]

11:30 AM on 01/07/2012

It is not a character attack if you are pointing historic facts and behaviors...,
If a complicit media will not vet the candidates Ron Paul, me and a growing multitude of patriotic Americans will do it for you at $100 per donation out of our own pockets to produce the work.

We will help our busy less involved citizen neighbors have real information to join the process (no matter how they vote) with in spite of your efforts to conceal and advocate the status quo.

We will have our country back sooner than later! Turns out,,, Freedom is popular to both the right and the left. You will not group and divide us as American's any longer. And, hopefully we will soon stop doing it to ourselves as well under your misdirection.

Ron Paul 2012!

[Michael D Ballantine]

09:29 AM on 01/07/2012

It's a waste of money unless you win. LOL. This kid of spending makes a mockery of our political system. Our system is not an open free expression of the will of the people, it is manufactured theatrical event more appropriate for reality TV than a political expression of the 21st century. This is why we need campaign finance reform that fundamentally changes the roll of money in politics. We need a constitutional amendment to make elections publically financed or spending will climb to $100 billion per campaign. We need to end corporate personhood and neither the Republicans or Democrats are capable of doing that. That is why we need a progressive in the White House to lead this nation into the future, not return it to the past.

[bigmaddy]

09:13 AM on 01/07/2012

Imagine if all that money could be used for the good of humanity.

[65irwin]

09:22 AM on 01/07/2012

bravo!!

money and the media elect these fools. they should all be given the same amount!

[ttsgw]

07:55 AM on 01/07/2012

US democracy is a big joke. It is just a commodity sold to the highest bidden.

[rtx47]

07:49 AM on 01/07/2012

infinitivesplit: Ron Paul's economic policies are the worst of anything imaginable­. Totally free markets will always result in ALL of the money being concentrat­ed in the hands of the very few - and at that point Democracy is lost.
------------

What is wrong with the principle of living within one's limits at the personal and govt. level?
Since when has borrowing from future generations, during peace time become a virtue?
Since when has borrowing from future generation become economic theory?

Since when has Govt become the first line of support for indiviudal / personal needs? Involuntary taxing future generation is the ultimate of "Taxation Without Representation."

Is that what the Founding Fathers envisaged in our Democracy and in the Constitution and Bill of Rights? Or likely we have ALREADY lost Democracy and are running on empty ruled by "Too Big to Fail" corporations and the Military-Industrial Complex.

[Keith Jigleeottee]

10:08 AM on 01/07/2012

Paul and many of his followers live in a pure fantasy land

[vicla1942]

07:12 AM on 01/07/2012

I do not know why Huntsman is in the race,He is intelligent
honest and qualified.Perry is dumb and corrupt.Newt has a record with one scandal
after another.Santorum is a intolerant homophobe who was defeated soundly in his last
attempt at the senate.Romney is gutless with no core principles, he is the Eddie
Haskell of politics, his record shows he made money downsizing u.s. companies , he could star in the movie Wall Street. Ron Paul is consistent , honest and definitely would work to
reduce the natoional debt, his non- interventionist foreign policy may be too risky for most
Americans. Although Obama is downsizing the military.I could consider Paul or Huntsman but most far right republicans will not.

[kathy smelser]

06:43 AM on 01/07/2012

just imagine for one moment what 11million dollars could do if it was put to good use ?so instead of this just being a waste of time it is a waste of money ...nothing new ....now i am left wondering how many millions of dollars are being spent that we do not know about ?

[bryan broome]

06:30 AM on 01/07/2012

All I can say is PEOPLE don't make your choice for president based on the abortion issue no matter which side you're on. That has been a political football for too long now and no drastic changes will be made regarding that issue.

[No Dogma Freedom]

04:19 AM on 01/07/2012

Ron Paul is the only one about the USC or mentioned it!

The USA now has now constitution: we have the patriot act!

Point in Fact, Stalin the Grand Evil - did not have infinite detention: you got eye years or were relocated in the USSR: Now you can be taken forever----or killed no one would know!

The USA is owned by the arms dealers, banks and wall street--- that is it!

I vote for Paul, not for the reason I think is right all the way: but you people don't get: no USC - you have got nothing! Hard to say if that is enough, the USA is so dark now in the Police state- most can't believe it ---! Like the German's and the Chilians, and Franco and all:

Now way not here!

Sorry, this is not republic of will or freedom but of despotism now:

Game over!

[bryan broome]

06:28 AM on 01/07/2012

"I vote for Paul, not for the reason I think is right all the way"
Agreed. And this issues that he will tackle are of the utmost import.

[Keith Jigleeottee]

10:12 AM on 01/07/2012

LOL he's a politician telling us what we already know and what is he really going to do to change anything? He's not a king and IMO he's anti democracy and is all for this money in the auction.

Big deal, many people are honest not a reason to put them into The Presidency, he's an ideologue which isn't too good in a "democracy".

People get it, some people even get it to the point of understanding what he can and can not do as President so we can agree with some of his stances but I want a doer not a talker...he's been talking and doing nothing for decades now.

[No Dogma Freedom]

02:07 PM on 01/07/2012

I like the Scene in the Lord of the Rings: when they know they are out numbered and that is their death they see. One calls then let be known throwout time: we fought courage and live in hearts of the generations to come:

In this: no Democracy are you in now!

You have nothing!

You have not one sacred right!

So to at least talk about the USC leaves a foot print in time!

The last notation on the wall of the USC is now!

All your talk and you have no better rights than A Russian under Stalin or Peasant under a king!

No USC and all are heeding the Neocon policy and way:

Game over!

[nypapajoe]

01:52 AM on 01/07/2012

Eleven Billion dollar budget for a political election is outrageous and criminal! Think about the homeless families, unemployed and hungry children that can be helped! This is considered socialism by the Baggers but OK to spend on Right Wing Propaganda and religious rhetoric! This is monsterious! Letting our fellow citizens suffer! There should be a financial cap and no corporate financial contributions of any kind!

[vicla1942]

07:13 AM on 01/07/2012

The incompetent corrupt supreme ct opened the floodgates.
We need a check on bad court decisions.

[rtx47]

11:23 PM on 01/06/2012

Right now, both Democrats and Republicans (backed by neo-liberal and neo-conservative think-tanks and talking-heads respectively) are headed and leading the country in the wrong direction with 1.5+ Trillion added to the federal debt EVERY YEAR. This annual debt (despite the pious rationale from both sides of why this debt is good for us); is on top of (added to) the 15 trillion already accumulated and 60 trillion in unfunded liabilities.

Ron Paul's and those who follow him, while heading in the right economic direction, have the challenge of achieving a "SOFT LANDING" over a 10-15 year period (depending on economic conditions).

We cannot land heading in the wrong / current direction. All we / govt will achieve is loss of control to both internal and external forces (if we have not already lost it) by the current path. Both Democrats and Republicans are part of the Military-Industrial-Political Complex that military general and President, Dwight Eisenhower warned us about more than 50 years ago.
Current Pentagon's top bras informs Congress the biggest threat to our country is OUR OWN debt.

Half the Republican candidates want to continue and expand the present war in the Mid and Far East. And Democrats are unable to transform the Peace Dividend into economic prosperity for the middle class. Both parties have sold themselves to / BOUGHT BY, and indebted to the Military-Industrial complex.

[infinitivesplit]

12:02 AM on 01/07/2012

Ron Paul's economic policies are the worst of anything imaginable. Totally free markets will always result in ALL of the money being concentrated in the hands of the very few - and at that point Democracy is lost. It also ultimately leads to complete collapse of capitalism itself since with no mechanisms for wealth redistribution, you effectively wipe out all competition. Capitalism yes - but NOT the sort of capitalism advocated for by Paul.

Not only that, but Libertarians like to assert that Libertarian principles would lead to more individual liberty - the opposite is actually the case because the STATE GOVERNMENTS consistently are MORE suppressive of individual liberties than the Federal Government.

Lastly - Libertarianism is an absolutist philosophy. As such it CAN NOT deal with situations that arise in the real world.

[Jeremy Mancuso]

01:04 AM on 01/07/2012

How do you know what a totally free market looks like? I for one would love to try it JUST to see how it would really work.... you CANNOT say how it would really work because the last totally free market was when Babylonians traded goat milk and water buffalo hides with each other....

... on the other hand we certainly know what a communist economy looks like, and that the closer a system gets to communism the more it sucks......

[woodsjs]

02:08 AM on 01/07/2012

Not quite! You have it pretty backwards. Regulatory capture in the current state of our big centralized government, almost singlehandedly concentraties all the money to big corporations. Transparency is near impossible. Larger governments can become too aloof, too powerful and too dangerous to respect the individual rights of the citizenry (patriot act, NDAA, SOPA, etc...). Returning to limited government will be much more beneficial by providing fewer laws, fewer regulations and a more limited role for the intervention of authorities in the personal and professional lives of citizens. It is more difficult to hide waste and corruption in a small government budget.

[WomanforPaul]

10:59 PM on 01/06/2012

Ron Paul a 12 term congressman whom has NEVER ONCE voted to increase taxes, has had consistent policy positions from the start. The other candidates simply say what the voters want to hear. Ron Paul warned us about the housing bubble, the debt crisis, the collapse of the US dollar, the high employment and recessions; basically, the entire collapse of our economy. He is the only candidate who can get us out of our mess.

Ron Paul is a patriot who has honorably served his country as a flight surgeon, defends both the constitution and civil liberties, and is for peace and prosperity. Paul has the wisdom, foresight, honesty and integrity to be president.

Mitt Romney does not where he stands on any issue; Rick Perry does not know very much; John Huntsman has worked for Democrats for many years; Rick Santorum is an extremist; and Newt Gingrich is philosophically unanchored, an unstable element.

America Needs Ron Paul.

[infinitivesplit]

12:06 AM on 01/07/2012

Gag and double gag. As if not voting to raise taxes ever was a responsible thing to do. Go read the constitution. Specifically go read Article One, section Eight. When you're done with that - go to Factcheck .org and read about whether Ron Paul has actually never voted for anything that does not have a constitutional basis.

THEN, go read about Laissez-Faire capitalism and whether it was what the founding fathers intended for this country .

[moonlightnmagnolia]

01:04 AM on 01/07/2012

Wow that's alot of homework which he will never even attempt. The Ron Paul group is the most fanatic, out of the whole bunch. They are not interested in the truth.

[olderdem]

09:12 PM on 01/06/2012

Ron Paul has been Rmoney's best friend. Wouldn't be surprised if it was Rmoney's supporters sending Paul the money.

[lvmlifer]

09:11 PM on 01/06/2012

just like the politicians want. all the decisions get made in washington. so more money than ever before is being spent to control the decision making.