HUFFPOST FUNDRACE - The $200 Million Man

Paul Blumenthal
Updated
HUFFPOST FUNDRACE - The $200 Million Man

President Barack Obama announced that his campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) have combined to raise more than $220 million for the entire year of 2011. The fundraising haul falls short of the fundraising record for an incumbent president in an off-year set by George W. Bush and the Republican National Committee (RNC), which was more than $237 million. Details on the donors for the last three months of 2011 won't be available until the end of this month. [AP]

It's possible that ad spending in the South Carolina primary could set a record. This helps prove the point that South Carolina will be the Armageddon of negative advertising in the GOP race. [Greenville]

Meet the three billionaires breathing life into candidates who would otherwise be driftwood. [Politico]

The head of one of the pro-Newt Gingrich super PACs apparently did not know that he had to publicly disclose his expenses. [WashTimes]

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The Karl Rove-linked American Crossroads preempts Bob Kerrey with a radio ad hitting him before he makes up his mind about running for Senate in Nebraska again. [HuffPost]

The pro-Mitt Romney super PAC Restore Our Future is up with an as-yet-unposted ad attacking Rick Santorum in Florida. The ad script: "Barack Obama knows four facts about Rick Santorum that you don't. Santorum pushed for billions in wasteful pork, voting for the Bridge to Nowhere, a tea pot museum. Even an indoor rain forest. Santorum voted to raise the debt limit five times, increasing spending and debt by $3-trillion. And he even voted to let convicted felons vote. So how will santorum beat Obama? Obama knows he can't." [Tampa]

A Super PAC for hire. Literally.

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: Restore Our Future
Candidate opposed: Newt Gingrich
Spot: "Desperate" -- A new ad from the pro-Romney super PAC hits Gingrich for his attacks on Romney's record at Bain Capital before pivoting to some of the attacks it has leveled against Gingrich in previous ads. These attacks include Gingrich's work at Freddie Mac and his support for a bill that allegedly would have provided support to a U.N. program that funded China's one-child policy.
Link: [http://youtu.be/44MKpxBJMyc]
Market: South Carolina and Florida.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Democratic National Committee
Candidate opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "Don't Just Take Our Word For It" -- The DNC begins it's assault on Romney's Bain record by putting together this video of his Republican opponent's laying out the criticisms for them.
Link: [http://youtu.be/f_mr6yQkj04]
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.

Committee: Rick Perry for President
Spot: "Champion" -- This Perry video starts with audio of Ronald Reagan and turns into a soaring commercial for both Perry and fighter jets by the end. This may be the last of the Perry ads.
Link: [http://youtu.be/d1l8byZvxg8]
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.

Committee: Santa Rita Super PAC
Candidate supported: Ron Paul
Spot: "Bailout" -- The out-of-nowhere pro-Ron Paul super PAC drops seven ads to air in South Carolina. This one focuses on the bank bailout and includes a clip of Romney saying, "I don't call it a bailout. I call it a rescue plan." The ad also includes a photo of Paul pointing at Romney while the announcer states that Paul is "fearless in the face of corruption."
Link: [http://youtu.be/qkV6eHmi2U4]
Market: South Carolina.
Buy: Part of an ~$379,516 buy.

Committee: Santa Rita Super PAC
Candidate supported: Ron Paul
Spot: "Where are you?" -- The out-of-nowhere pro-Ron Paul super PAC drops seven ads to air in South Carolina. This ad calls out the Republican Party for failing to live up to its conservative values. It labels George W. Bush a "neo-con" and hits George H.W. Bush for raising taxes. Ron Paul is offered as a man "who has never stopped fighting for those conservative values."
Link: [http://youtu.be/Yz3KN3f5JXE]
Market: South Carolina.
Buy: Part of an ~$379,516 buy.

Committee: Santa Rita Super PAC
Candidate supported: Ron Paul
Spot: "Electability" -- The out-of-nowhere pro-Ron Paul super PAC drops seven ads to air in South Carolina. This ad compares Paul to Ronald Reagan because both candidate's electability was questioned by establishment figures.
Link: [http://youtu.be/A_UfB9EzhKA]
Market: South Carolina.
Buy: Part of an ~$379,516 buy.

Committee: Santa Rita Super PAC
Candidate supported: Ron Paul
Spot: "What the polls show" -- The out-of-nowhere pro-Ron Paul super PAC drops seven ads to air in South Carolina. Ron Paul is said to be the only candidate who can beat Barack Obama in this ad. "Vote for a winner," the announcer intones.
Link: [http://youtu.be/FAxJkMDVJ7A]
Market: South Carolina.
Buy: Part of an ~$379,516 buy.

Committee: Santa Rita Super PAC
Candidate supported: Ron Paul
Spot: "No More Masks" -- The out-of-nowhere pro-Ron Paul super PAC drops seven ads to air in South Carolina. Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama are shown in this ad as but masks of the "same face of big government." Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are presented as similar masks. "Will you just change the mask of big government again?" the announcer asks. "Or do you have the courage to vote for the face of liberty?" That face is presented as Ron Paul.
Link: [http://youtu.be/fta4EkJSh14]
Market: South Carolina.
Buy: Part of an ~$379,516 buy.

Committee: Santa Rita Super PAC
Candidate supported: Ron Paul
Spot: "Support of and for our military" -- The out-of-nowhere pro-Ron Paul super PAC drops seven ads to air in South Carolina. This ad touts the fact that Paul receives more money from members of the military than any other Republican candidate.
Link: [http://youtu.be/egQjAXTls-E]
Market: South Carolina.
Buy: Part of an ~$379,516 buy.

Committee: Santa Rita Super PAC
Candidate supported: Ron Paul
Spot: "Who is representing you?" -- The out-of-nowhere pro-Ron Paul super PAC drops seven ads to air in South Carolina. This ad specifically targets South Carolina and says, "Ron Paul stands for you."
Link: [http://youtu.be/ZkkRvj3JHQg]
Market: South Carolina.
Buy: Part of an ~$379,516 buy.

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), $982,082 to support, $7,683,140 to oppose. (+$1,904,146)
Rick Perry (R), $3,798,524 to support, $0 to oppose.
Jon Huntsman (R), $2,453,204 to support, $0 to oppose.
Ron Paul (R), $1,319,241 to support, $107,086 to oppose. ($379,516)
Mitt Romney (R), $475,000 to support, $450,741 to oppose.
Rick Santorum (R), $832,436 to support, $3,028 to oppose.
Herman Cain (R), $462,217 to support, $0 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $0 to support, $429,919 to oppose.
Gary Johnson (R), $518 to support, $0 to oppose.

RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES

Restore Our Future, $1,729,670 to oppose Newt Gingrich for President in Florida.
Restore Our Future, $177,176 to oppose Newt Gingrich for President in South Carolina.
Santa Rita Super PAC, $317,541 to support Ron Paul for President in South Carolina.
Endorse Liberty, $61,975 to support Ron Paul for President.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, $12,500 to support Suzanne Bonamici for Congress in Oregon First District.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, $12,500 to oppose Rob Cornilles for Congress in Oregon First District.
Club for Growth, $204,865 to oppose David Dewhurst for Senate in Texas.
Club for Growth, $33,855 to oppose Fred Upton for Congress in Michigan.
Club for Growth, $61,777 to oppose Tim Murphy for Congress in Pennsylvania.

RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS

NONE.

Send tips, hints, submissions, rumors to HuffPost Fundrace at paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.