Financial sector donors are fleeing Obama for the open arms of Republican Mitt Romney, himself a former private equity fund chieftan. HuffPost examined the contributions of some of the top financial donors and found that Romney beat Obama by a 11.7-1 margin in raising money from these companies in the fourth quarter of 2011. These donors gave $1.49 million to Romney and only $127,000 to Obama in the last three months of the year.
Some bullet points from the story:
"Goldman Sachs employees, who donated more than $1 million to Obama's first run for the White House, gave Romney more than $106,000 in the fourth quarter of 2011. Obama received just over $12,000 during that same period.
Bank of America employees, who donated more than $388,000 to Obama in 2008, gave Romney more than $77,000 in the fourth quarter of 2011. Obama received just under $16,000 during that same period.
CitiGroup employees, who donated about $730,000 to Obama in 2008, gave Romney more than $196,000 during the fourth quarter of 2011. Obama received $3,842 during the same period."
Further findings from campaign finance filings from across the Internet:
Hedge funds power Romney's super PAC. [Boston]
Individuals, not corporations, are fueling super PACs. [USAT]
Billionaires flock to American Crossroads. [Forbes]
One donor to Romney's super PAC made it hard to track him down by contributing through a semi-anonymous corporation. [NYT]
Republican primary:
A conservative super PAC backs Newt Gingrich. [CNN]
Rick Santorum's super PAC goes negative. [ABC]
This animation from Mark Fiore is probably the funniest send-up of super PACs to date.
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: Mitt Romney for President
Spot: "One-Term"
Link: [http://youtu.be/89grg-SCEaY]
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.
Committee: Red White And Blue Fund
Candidate supported: Rick Santorum
Spot: "The Only One"
Link: [http://youtu.be/vBKIjLlELho]
Market: Minnesota & Missouri.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Democratic National Committee
Candidate opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "Mitt Romney and Donald Trump: They Both Like Firing People"
Link: [http://youtu.be/-W3L7Z2Cn4Q]
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.
Committee: Republican National Committee
Candidate opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Interesting"
Link: [http://youtu.be/WqjYOpRe0pk]
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.
Committee: National Republican Senatorial Committee
Candidate opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Groundhog Day 2 Trailer: Dem's Dilemma"
Link: [http://youtu.be/EGIYKpJc6ZA]
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.
Committee: Democratic National Committee
Candidate opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "Not Concerned"
Link: [http://youtu.be/T34KR02E7O8]
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.
Committee: Richard Mourdock for Senate
Candidate opposed: Sen. Dick Lugar
Spot: "Dick Lugar's Record On Earmarks"
Link: [http://youtu.be/UhmqKUlTxj8]
Market: Indiana.
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), $2,666,600 to support, $16,279,249 to oppose. (+26,515)
Mitt Romney (R), $1,522,596 to support, $4,417,739 to oppose. (+$14,552)
Rick Perry (R), $3,964,824 to support, $0 to oppose.
Ron Paul (R), $3,578,172 to support, $165,339 to oppose. (+$1,206)
Jon Huntsman (R), $2,453,204 to support, $0 to oppose.
Rick Santorum (R), $2,005,485 to support, $444,355 to oppose. (+$194,966)
Barack Obama (D), $25,122 to support, $634,603 to oppose. (+$4,479)
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, $25,000 to support Newt Gingrich for President in Nevada.
Endorse Liberty, $1,206 to support Ron Paul for President.
SEIU COPE, $14,552 to oppose Mitt Romney for President in Nevada.
Campaign To Defeat Barack Obama, $1,515 to support Newt Gingrich for President in Nevada.
Campaign To Defeat Barack Obama, $4,479 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Red White And Blue Fund, $133,549 to support Rick Santorum for President in Minnesota.
Red White And Blue Fund, $61,417 to support Rick Santorum for President in Missouri.
RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS
Citizens for a Better Kansas, Winfield, Kan., Treasurer: Stephen Campbell. (Super PAC)
A Completely Legitimate Super PAC, La Jolla, Calif., Treasurer: Spencer Bagley.
Idahoans for Liberty, Boise, Idaho, Treasurer: Joseph Zaher. (Super PAC)
Family Faith Future, Baltimore, Md., Treasurer: J. Edward Whitehead. (Super PAC)
Texas Conservatives Fund, Austin, Texas, Treasurer: Paul Kilgore.
Joe Six PAC, Hanover, N.H., Treasurer: Richard Yu. (Super PAC)
Friends of Ron Paul for President, Redondo Beach, Calif., Treasurer: Monique De Leon. (Super PAC)
TTBO Super PAC, Spokane Valley, Wash., Treasurer: Gordon Stufflebeam. (Super PAC)
Extra Super Duper PAC, Baton Rouge, La., Treasurer: Ben Miller.
Test PAC Please Ignore, Phoenix, Ariz., Treasurer: Andrew J. Posterick.
Big Sky Freedom PAC, Helena, Mont., Treasurer: Loma Kumey.
Send tips, hints, submissions, rumors to HuffPost Fundrace at paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.