Mitt Romney won't disclose his bundlers, but that didn't stop USA Today from analyzing campaign contributions and fundraising invitations to piece together the list of top dollar fundraisers for the Romney campaign. USA Today: "Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney depends on a wide network of venture capitalists, hedge-fund managers and other Wall Street bankers to raise the hundreds of millions he has amassed in his bid to oust President Obama, a USA TODAY analysis of his fundraising operation shows. More than 300 people — or nearly a quarter of the roughly 1,200 individuals USA TODAY has identified as Romney fundraisers — come from the world of finance, more than any other sector. More than a dozen come from the ranks of a single company, investment powerhouse Goldman Sachs, which spent nearly $4.4 million to influence Washington policymakers last year. ...Those fundraisers who commit to raising as much as $250,000 to host Romney at dinners and receptions include diet guru Jenny Craig, who hosted Romney at her California beachfront home, billionaire hedge-fund guru Julian Robertson and Arizona Cardinals tight end Todd Heap. ...Unlike Obama, Romney has refused to name his top fundraisers. USA TODAY reviewed Federal Election Commission data, invitations to 85 Romney fundraising events obtained by the non-partisan Sunlight Foundation, campaign news releases and news accounts to offer a snapshot of Romney's fundraising network."
Both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are raising millions of dollars from the financial sector. Romney is leading in the race for financial sector contributions at a time when many at the top of the industry find themselves under a very serious investigation as part of the Libor rate-rigging scandal. HuffPost reports: "Four years after the financial meltdown and despite a steady stream of increasingly disturbing scandals, the financial sector remains the biggest source of campaign money in Washington. The sector is actually on pace to match or exceed the record $504 million it doled out in 2008, having already provided $298 million to candidates, political parties and both traditional and super PACs, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Mitt Romney is the top recipient of the financial sector cash, pulling in more than twice the contributions that have gone to President Barack Obama as of May. Incumbent members of Congress have received nearly one-third of the financial sector's donations so far. And much money has flowed from employees of banks that may be implicated in the financial sector's biggest scandal since the 2008 collapse and perhaps its most arcane. ...Romney hauled in more than $22 million from the financial sector through the end of May, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That's ahead of the amount Obama raised through the end of May four years ago. Over the full 2008 election cycle, Obama pulled in a record $42 million from the finance sector. ...Six of the banks under investigation -- JPMorgan, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, UBS, Bank of America and Barclays -- rank among Romney's top 20 donors. Through the end of May, employees of those companies and their family members have contributed more than $2 million to the Romney campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The campaign also relies on many executives and directors from these banks as top fundraisers, rounding up checks for others. In the past, major bundlers have enjoyedsignificant influence in their candidate's administration. The Romney campaign's leading disclosed bundler, with nearly $1 million raised, is Barclays' top lobbyist and managing director, Patrick Durkin. Others include Credit Suisse head Eric Varvel and four JPMorgan executives. Varvel has also cut a $100,000 contribution to the pro-Romney super PAC, Restore Our Future."
Will Obama be the first incumbent to be outraised by his opponent? The answer from the Washington Post: No.
The National Journal reports, "Since April, just over half—about $27 million out of $51 million—of Obama’s television spending has been on negative ads."
Majority PAC, the super PAC supporting Senate Democrats, raised $5.4 million in the second quarter of this year.
Crossroads GPS, the Karl Rove-linked social welfare nonprofit, launched an $8 million ad campaign against President Obama in swing states today.
AD WATCH
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
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "No Evidence"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Democratic National Committee
Candidate Opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "Mitt Romney's $ecret $tash"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Crossroads GPS
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Tried"
Market: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia.
Buy: $8 million.
Committee: Club for Growth
Candidate Opposed: David Dewhurst
Spot: "Mud"
Market: Texas.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Club for Growth
Candidate Opposed: David Dewhurst
Spot: "Time"
Market: Texas. (Radio)
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: David Dewhurst for Senate
Candidate Opposed: Ted Cruz
Spot: "Ted Cruz: Timeline"
Market: Texas.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Shelley Berkley for Senate
Candidate Opposed: Dean Heller
Spot: "Proud"
Market: Nevada.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Shelley Berkley for Senate
Candidate Opposed: Dean Heller
Spot: "Quote"
Market: Nevada.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Heidi Heitkamp for Senate
Spot: "Pee Wee"
Market: North Dakota.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Sierra Club
Candidate Opposed: Joe Heck
Spot: "Congressman Heck: Save Wind Industry Jobs"
Market: Nevada's 3rd District.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Sierra Club
Candidate Opposed: Frank Guinta
Spot: "Congressman Guinta: Save Wind Industry Jobs"
Market: New Hampshire's 1st District.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Sierra Club
Candidate Opposed: Lou Barletta
Spot: "Congressman Barletta: Save Wind Industry Jobs"
Market: Pennsylvania's 11th District.
Buy: Undisclosed.
TRACKING INDEPENDENT SPENDING:
These numbers represent spending by independent groups, like super PACs and non-profits, to support or oppose a particular candidate 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.
Presidential Race:
Mitt Romney (R), $7,337,304 to support, $21,239,970 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $891,253 to support, $9,754,954 to oppose. (Oppose: +$23,916)
Most Outside Spending for Congressional Candidates:
TX-Senate: Ted Cruz (R), $1,158,772 to support, $2,384,172 to oppose.
TX-Senate: David Dewhurst (R), $569,871 to support, $2,514,370 to oppose.
IN-Senate: Richard Mourdock (R), $1,669,546 to support, $1,275,863 to oppose.
OH-Senate: Josh Mandel (R), $185,740 to support, $1,880,012 to oppose.
NV-Senate: Dean Heller (R), $0 to support, $1,911,500 to oppose. (NEW)
RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
National Rifle Association of America Political Victory Fund, $1,175 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Sierra Club Political Committee, $750 to support Martin Heinrich for Senate in New Mexico.
Sierra Club Political Committee, $148,045 to oppose Heather Wilson for Senate in New Mexico.
American Action Network, $312,602 to oppose Scott Keadle for Congress in North Carolina's 8th District.
National Right to Life Victory Fund, $12,616 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Citizens for Prosperity and Good Government, $5,750 to support Michael Crimmins for Congress in California's 51st District.
National Rifle Association of America Political Victory Fund, $625 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Montana Hunters and Anglers Leadership Fund $363,121 to oppose Denny Rehberg for Senate in Montana.
Citizens for Conservative Leadership, $4,948 to oppose Jim Pendergraph for Congress in North Carolina's 9th District.
American Crossroads, $2,000 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Majorty PAC, $75,921 to oppose Rick Berg for Senate in North Dakota.
Crossroads Generation, $7,500 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
National Association of Realtors Congressional Fund, $33,060 to support Gary Peters for Congress in Michigan's 14th District.
National Association of Realtors Congressional Fund, $33,745 to support David Dewhurst for Senate in Texas.
National Association of Realtors Congressional Fund, $34,440 to support Fred Upton for Congress in Michigan's 6th District.
Correction: A typo mistakenly stated that the Sierra Club had spent money to "support Heather Wilson for Senate in New Mexico." This has been corrected to say "oppose."
RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS
Make Opportunity PAC, Huntsville, Ala., Treasurer: Martha Brooks. (Leadership PAC: Rep. Mo Brooks)
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