Michigan is now ground-zero in the Republican presidential primary and Mitt Romney, who was born in the state, is investing huge amounts to try to beat back the surprising surge of Rick Santorum. Romney and super PAC are combining to spend more than $1.2 million on advertising in the Wolverine state. The spending should swamp whatever amount Santorum ultimately decides to spend in the state by a wide margin. Does money buy love (or hate)? We'll find out.
Slate's Dave Weigel wrote a few days ago that super PACs have increased democratic choices by allowing underfunded candidates like Santorum and Newt Gingrich to stay in the race. Considering the amount of spending that we've seen from Romney's super PAC and his inability to win in any consistent fashion shouldn't we be asking if it is Romney, the best funded candidate in the race, who has benefited the most from super PACs?
Romney would certainly need to lean on his super PAC if he ran out of fundraising sources. That's entirely possible considering the incredibly high percentage of contributions for the maximum amount and incredibly low percentage of contributions from small donors pulled in by his campaign. Hillary Clinton ran into a very similar problem in 2008. If this happens Romney will likely have to tap into his vast personal fortune.
On the opposite side of the coin we have Santorum, who has run a shoestring campaign that, when examined, appears to be an experiment in testing the capacity for remote employment.
The reelection campaign of President Barack Obama has invested large sums in online advertising. In fact, he's beating his closest competitor in this department, Romney, by a 2-1 margin. The campaign has recently been blanketing Hulu, the video streaming web site, with ads including this one about private sector job growth during the Obama administration.
The Gingrich super PAC is up with a national radio ad buy on the same day that the Wall Street Journal reported that Sheldon Adelson, the money man for the group, is considering contributing another $10 million for attack ads against Santorum.
Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) is calling on the White House to forbid Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius from appearing at super PAC fundraisers. Enzi claims that since Sebelius is in charge of enacting the health care law her appearance could provide the appearance of undue influence or corruption. One would think that if such a worry arises with one policy area and for one policy maker it should be with all offices that can affect policy. You know, like being in Congress. Enzi, however, has not stated his position on Republican or Democratic lawmakers appearing at super PAC fundraisers.
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Committee: Restore Our Future
Candidate Opposed: Rick Santorum
Spot: "Right Experience"
Market: Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Rick Santorum for President
Candidate Opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "Rombo"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Richard Mourdock for Senate
Candidate Opposed: Dick Lugar
Spot: "Dick Lugar: Out of Touch"
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.
Committee: Sarah Steelman for Senate
Spot: "Protecting Our First Amendment Rights"
Market: Missouri.
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), $5,226,377 to support, $17,294,597 to oppose.
Mitt Romney (R), $2,216,953 to support, $5,073,236 to oppose.
Rick Perry (R), $4,167,697 to support, $1,404 to oppose.
Ron Paul (R), $3,678,219 to support, $133,333 to oppose. (+$3,153)
Rick Santorum (R), $2,280,326 to support, $397,503 to oppose.
Jon Huntsman (R), $2,453,204 to support, $0 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $280,416 to support, $759,200 to oppose.
Herman Cain (R), $501,717 to support, $954 to oppose.
Gary Johnson (R), $518 to support, $0 to oppose.
RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
FreedomWorks for America, $19,006 to oppose Orrin Hatch for Senate in Utah.
FreedomWorks for America, $2,300 to oppose Richard Lugar for Senate in Indiana.
FreedomWorks for America, $26,569 to support Richard Mourdock for Senate in Indiana.
Endorse Liberty, $3,153 to support Ron Paul for President.
Campaign for Primary Accountability, $26,823 to support Dennis Kucinich for Congress in Ohio's Ninth District.
Campaign for Primary Accountability, $63,838 to support Dennis Kucinich for Congress in Ohio's Ninth District.
RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS
Navajo Natani, Washington, D.C., Treasurer: Cameron Daines. (Super PAC)
Truth in Politics PAC, Berea, Ky., Treasurer: Randi Colley. (Super PAC)
Defending Liberty, Austin, Texas, Treasurer: Cody Rutledge Wilson. (Super PAC)
Send A Big Message, Jeffersonville, N.Y., Treasurer: John Goodfriend.
Americans For More Rhombus, Keller, Texas, Treasurer: Adam Kielich. (Super PAC)
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