Rick Santorum continues to face a full-throttle attack spanning multiple states from the Romney super PAC, Restore Our Future. The group has reported spending $1.66 million against Santorum from last Friday through today. This a major surge in negative ad spending against Santorum, who until his recent victories in Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado was largely left untouched in the super PAC wars. The Restore Our Future ads target Santorum in Arizona, Ohio, Michigan, Alabama, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The group also recorded a national cable ad buy today for more than $400,000.
Groups supporting Santorum are trying their best to match the Romney super PAC. From Friday through today Santorum's super PAC, Red White And Blue Fund, has dropped $1,327,107 across four states -- Michigan, Ohio, Washington, and Alaska -- while the Susan B Anthony List spent $149,000 to support Santorum. That brings Santorum's total of outside support of the past six days to $1.46 million, nearly matching that of Romney's allies.
The Obama super PAC is jumping into Michigan with a $243,000 ad buy targeting Mitt Romney. (Ad linked below.)
Both labor unions and the Chamber of Commerce are gearing up their electoral engines for the 2012 race. Both expect to spend huge sums.
Running racist ads is apparently a really bad idea in the 21st century. Who would have thunk it?
The Campaign Finance Institute breaks down recent campaign filings by the presidential candidates. One big finding: 88 percent of Barack Obama's donors are repeat donors. These are the kind of donors who are more likely to come back and give more again and again.
Will Justice Anthony Kennedy budge if asked to reconsider Citizens United? Not very likely.
The high profile of super PACs has drawn increasing scrutiny of their funding and with that has come an increase in complaints about their activity.
An anti-super PAC governor gives money to a super PAC. The Obama super PAC reversal effect?
AD WATCH
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Committee: Red White And Blue Fund
Candidate Opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "Vital Decisions"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Newt Gingrich for President
Spot: "Latinos With Newt"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Priorities USA Action
Candidate Opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "Bankrupt"
Market: Michigan.
Buy: $243,000.
Committee: Priorities USA Action
Candidate Opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "Bankrupt (:15)"
Market: Michigan.
Buy: $243,000.
Committee: Richard Mourdock for Senate
Candidate Opposed: Sen. Dick Lugar
Spot: "Disappointing"
Market: Indiana.
Buy: Unknown.
Committee: Rick Berg for Senate
Spot: "Mom"
Market: North Dakota.
Buy: Unknown.
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), $6,561,740 to support, $17,409,447 to oppose. (+$125,979)
Mitt Romney (R), $2,216,953 to support, $5,073,236 to oppose.
Rick Santorum (R), $3,756,434 to support, $2,952,159 to oppose. (Support: +$543,168, Oppose: +$416,973)
Rick Perry (R), $4,167,697 to support, $1,404 to oppose.
Ron Paul (R),$3,684,324 to support, $133,333 to oppose. (+$1,297)
Jon Huntsman (R), $2,453,204 to support, $0 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $287,153 to support, $760,389 to oppose.
Herman Cain (R), $501,717 to support, $954 to oppose.
Gary Johnson (R), $518 to support, $0 to oppose.
RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
Winning Our Future, $125,979 to support Newt Gingrich for President in Arizona.
Red White And Blue Fund, $124,460 to support Rick Santorum for President in Michigan.
Red White And Blue Fund, $1,003 to support Rick Santorum for President in Washington.
Red White And Blue Fund, $258,921 to support Rick Santorum for President in Ohio.
Red White And Blue Fund, $9,784 to support Rick Santorum for President in Alaska.
Susan B. Anthony List Inc, $149,000 to support Rick Santorum for President.
Restore Our Future, $416,973 to oppose Rick Santorum for President.
FreedomWorks for America, $7,226 to support Josh Mandel for Senate in Ohio.
FreedomWorks for America, $975 to oppose Sherrod Brown for Senate in Ohio.
FreedomWorks for America, $31,367 to oppose Orrin Hatch for Senate in Utah.
The New Prosperity Foundation, $15,525 to support Bob Dold for Congress in Illinois' Tenth District.
The New Prosperity Foundation, $10,121 to oppose Bill Foster for Congress in Illinois' Tenth District.
Endorse Liberty, $1,297 to support Ron Paul for President.
RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS
Progressive Action PAC, Washington, D.C., Treasurer: Diane Evans.
Sam vs The Machine, Arlington, Va., Treasurer: Scott B. Mackenzie. (Super PAC)
A Congress That Works, Columbus, Ohio, Treasurer: Jeff Berding. (Super PAC)
Creative Solutions in Health Care PAC, Fort Worth, Texas, Treasurer: Chris Slimmer.
Blyth America, Chicago, Ill., Treasurer: John Blyth. (Super PAC)
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