Newt Gingrich has had little support on the air during his recent surge in the Florida polls. That's about to change. Winning Our Future, the pro-Gingrich super PAC, is readying a $6 million ad buy for a brutal attack ad stating that Mitt Romney "invented government run health care." (Take that Internet inventor Al Gore!) The ad includes footage of Romney stating the he is "glad" that President Obama used the Massachusetts model to craft the national health care reform law and another damning line from Romney explaining, "I'm not a partisan Republican, but I'm someone who is moderate and my views are progressive."
Winning Our Future is also planning a major grassroots effort and is staffing up in Florida, Nevada, and other primary states. [WaPo]
The New York Times says $5 million won't go very far for Newt in Florida. The $6 million ad buy, though, suggests that they are getting a lot more money from sources other than casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson. Also, the earned media that they will get for an ad like the one they are running will be worth more than $5 million.
What does Adelson get for the $10 million he's already ponied up for the Newt super PAC? Let's ask Newt: "He knows I'm very pro Israel. That's the central value of his life. I mean, he's very worried that Israel is going to not survive."
Super PACs have already spent $35 million in the 2012 presidential race. [CNN]
Rick Perry's donors are splitting between Newt and Mitt. [Politico]
Dem groups slam Romney in a Spanish language radio ad. [HuffPost]
Despite the explosion in spending and secrecy, campaign finance reform is the second lowest top priority for voters, according to a Pew Research study. [Pew]
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: Winning Our Future
Candidate opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: The pro-Gingrich super PAC enters the Florida fight with this brutal attack ad labeling Mitt Romney the inventor of government run health care. (Really? Not LBJ or Teddy Roosevelt? Bismarck?) The ad features a series of clips of Romney saying nice things about the Obama-backed national health care reform law. Also, Obama is featured saying nice things about Romney.
Link: [http://youtu.be/AV-QIJ6Chqk]
Market: Florida.
Buy: Part of a $6 million ad buy.
Committee: Restore Our Future
Candidate opposed: Newt Gingrich
Spot: The pro-Romney super PAC blasts Gingrich for overseeing an explosion in earmarks, working with Nancy Pelosi on global warming, and co-sponsoring a bill with Pelosi (unmentioned are 100+ other congressmen who sponsored this bill) that would have allegedly provided $60 billion to a UN program supporting China's one-child policy.
Link: [http://youtu.be/xv3khbf4trs]
Market: Florida.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Mitt Romney for President
Candidate opposed: Newt Gingrich
Spot: "Mr. Washington Insider" -- Romney hits Newt with a series of 1990s era news clips about Gingrich's ethics problems. The ad ends with a subtle dig. The final clip of Newt talking features a reference to his second wife, since divorced, Marianne.
Link: [http://youtu.be/_ryYF-9Nl1g]
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.
Committee: Newt Gingrich for President
Spot: "A Special Message From Fred Thompson" -- Former Sen. Fred Thompson has a goatee. And he's endorsing Newt Gingrich for president.
Link: [http://youtu.be/cIsV_Cv-M3c]
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.
Committee: Americans United
Candidate opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "ROMNEY: Believe in Switzerland!" -- The Democratic group asks, "Why did Mitt Romney have a Swiss bank account in the first place?."
Link: [http://youtu.be/ZAR6SWhbnQ8]
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), $1,367,237 to support, $10,512,451 to oppose. (Support: +$270,955, Oppose: +$61,578)
Mitt Romney (R), $1,262,223 to support, $4,328,557 to oppose. (Support: +$628, Oppose: +$1,000,000)
Rick Perry (R), $3,964,824 to support, $0 to oppose.
Ron Paul (R), $3,397,331 to support, $165,339 to oppose. (+$55,966)
Jon Huntsman (R), $2,453,204 to support, $0 to oppose.
Rick Santorum (R), $1,810,519 to support, $444,355 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $18,517 to support, $611,797 to oppose.
Herman Cain (R), $486,717 to support, $0 to oppose.
Gary Johnson (R), $518 to support, $0 to oppose.
RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
Winning Our Future, $270,955 to support Newt Gingrich for President in Florida.
Restore Our Future, $17,476 to oppose Newt Gingrich for President in Florida.
Restore Our Future, $628 to support Mitt Romney for President in Florida.
Endorse Liberty, $44,102 to oppose Newt Gingrich for President.
Endorse Liberty, $51,532 to support Ron Paul for President.
Endorse Liberty, $4,434 to support Ron Paul for President.
AFSCME, $1,000,000 to oppose Mitt Romney for President in Florida.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund, $1,250 to support Suzanne Bonamici for Congress in Oregon's First District.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund, $1,250 to oppose Rob Cornilles for Congress in Oregon's First District.
RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS
Targa Resources Corp, Houston, Texas, Treasurer: Timothy Janisse.
RepublicFreedom, East Galesburg, Ill., Treasurer: Joshua Paul Hudson.
Send tips, hints, submissions, rumors to HuffPost Fundrace at paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.