It's no surprise that Mitt Romney is pulling in more money from Wall Street than Barack Obama. The sheer magnitude of that difference is fairly staggering though. Politico's Ken Vogel and Abby Phillip report, "For three years, Wall Street’s been telling the world how much it can’t stand President Barack Obama. Now, thanks to campaign finance filings, it’s possible to put a price tag on just how much: Mitt Romney's presidential campaign and the super PAC supporting it are outraising Obama among financial-sector donors $37.1 million to $4.8 million. Near the front of the pack are 19 Obama donors from 2008 who are giving big to Romney. The 19 have already given $4.8 million to Romney’s presidential campaign and the super PAC supporting it through the end of April, according to a POLITICO analysis of Federal Election Commission filings. Four years ago, they gave Obama $213,700. None of them has given a penny to the president’s reelection campaign or the super PAC supporting it."
Super PAC don Sheldon Adelson is increasing his standing as the leading funder of super PACs by reportedly giving $10 million to the super PAC backing Romney's campaign, "Casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson has given $10 million to Restore Our Future, a pro-Mitt Romney super PAC, according to the Wall Street Journal. The contribution makes Adelson the single biggest donor to the super PAC, which is allowed to raise unlimited sums from individuals, corporations and unions. ...Adelson's infusion marks the next stage for the super PAC as it pivots to target President Barack Obama. The billionaire's massive contribution signals that traditional GOP mega-donors will come out to fund the general election efforts of independent groups, from Restore Our Future to the Karl Rove-linked Crossroads groups, the American Action Network, the American Future Fund and others."
The Wall Street Journal notes where Adelson's next contributions will be going, "Mr. Adelson has told friends that he intends to give at least $100 million to conservative causes and candidates this election cycle. He contributed some $250,000 to Republican Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, who just won against a labor union-forced recall election there. But he has also told his friends and colleagues that he would prefer to keep his contributions under wraps in order to avoid controversy, and will likely focus donations mostly on non-profits affiliated with political PACS, which don’t have to disclose the names of donors. He is expected to donate to the conservative non-profit Crossroads GPS, which was founded by Republican strategist Karl Rove, a longtime friend of Mr. Adelson, according to Republican fundraisers."
Newt Gingrich, the previous beneficiary of Adelson's largesse, now says that elections are, "rigged, frankly, in favor of the wealthy."
A Stanford University study shows that donors not giving to Obama's reelection after giving in 2008 tend to be either very liberal or conservative.
Obama and Romney are spending an unbelievable amount of time raising money, the New York Times reports.
The Los Angeles Times follows the payments between conservative non-profits groups.
Mitt Romney makes a $3.3 million ad buy. The Karl Rove-linked Crossroads groups go in for $4.6 million targeting Democratic senators and Senate candidates.
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: Barack Obama for President
Candidate Opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "Mitt Romney: Out of Touch"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Democratic National Committee
Candidate Opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "Fewer of Me"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Mitt Romney for President
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "The Only Ones Affected?"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Republican National Committee
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Lost Focus"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: American Future Fund
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Fast and Furious"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: American Future Fund
Candidate Opposed: Heidi Heitkamp
Spot: "Come Clean"
Market: North Dakota.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Crossroads GPS
Candidate Opposed: Heidi Heitkamp
Spot: "Change"
Market: North Dakota.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Crossroads GPS
Candidate Opposed: Sherrod Brown
Spot: "Cheap"
Market: Ohio.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Crossroads GPS
Candidate Opposed: Claire McCaskill
Spot: "Spending"
Market: Missouri.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: American Crossroads
Candidate Opposed: Tim Kaine
Spot: "Behind"
Market: Virginia.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: American Crossroads
Candidate Opposed: Shelley Berkley
Spot: "Arms"
Market: Nevada.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: American Crossroads
Candidate Opposed: Bob Kerrey
Spot: "Consequences"
Market: Nebraska.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: SEIU
Candidate Opposed: Josh Mandel
Spot: "Careful"
Market: Ohio.
Buy: ~$263,049.
Committee: Jeff Flake for Senate
Spot (TV): "Arizona's Battle-Tested Conservative is Jeff Flake"
Spot (Radio): "Arizona's Battle-Tested Conservative is Jeff Flake"
Market: Arizona.
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), $7,327,516 to support, $16,094,914 to oppose. (Oppose: +$481,123)
Barack Obama (D), $509,622 to support, $1,646,047 to oppose. (Oppose: +$18,000)
Most Outside Spending for Congressional Candidates:
TX-Senate: Ted Cruz (R), $838,270 to support, $2,301,676 to oppose.
TX-Senate: David Dewhurst (R), $501,126 to support, $2,481,715 to oppose.
IN-Senate: Richard Mourdock (R), $1,442,961 to support, $634,899 to oppose.
IN-Senate: Dick Lugar (R), $208,628 to support, $1,671,841 to oppose.
OR-01: Rob Cornilles (R), $98,051 to support, $1,219,148 to oppose.
RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
American Action Network, $3,337 to support Jesse Kelly for Congress in Arizona's 8th District.
FreedomWorks for America, $7,590 to support Dan Liljenquist for Senate in Utah.
FreedomWorks for America, $12,448 to oppose Orrin Hatch for Senate in Utah.
Restore America's Voice, $18,000 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Campaign for Primary Accountability, $1,820 to oppose Charles Rangel for Congress in New York's 13th District.
SEIU COPE, $263,049 to oppose Josh Mandel for Senate in Ohio.
SEIU COPE, $481,123 to oppose Mitt Romney for President.
National Rifle Association of America Political Victory Fund, $430 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
The 60 Plus Association, $1,841 to support Scott D'Amboise for Senate in Maine.
RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS
The American Bicentennial Baby's PAC, Galveston Island, Texas, Treasurer: Tim T. Day.
Have-Nots Unite! Half-Knots Unite!, Milford, Conn. Treasurer: David Ralph Wanta. (Super PAC)
Empower Citizens Network, Akron, Ohio, Treasurer: Robert Warther. (Super PAC)
Elect A New Congress, Galena, Ill., Treasurer: William W. Fawell. (Super PAC)
Christians for the Separation of Church and State, Renton, Wash., Treasurer: Naomi Helene Washburn. (Super PAC)
Coastal Securities Inc Federal PAC, Houston, Texas, Treasurer: Brian Folk. (Super PAC)
Defenders of Wildlife Action Committee, Washington, D.C., Treasurer: Jamie Rappaport Clark. (Super PAC)
We Just Want Stephen Colbert to Come to Our College SuperPAC, St. Mary's City, Md., Treasurer: Susan Edra Grogan. (Super PAC)
IUPAT District Council 82 PAC, Little Canada, Minn., Treasurer: Warren Harder.
Send tips, hints, submissions, rumors to HuffPost Fundrace at paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.