Super PACs Spend Mountain of Cash in September

Over the past 30 days, Super PACs have spent a total of $214,710,046 over a total of 22,987 different "transactions". This dwarfs the amount of money that was spent in August or any month previous.

Super PACs, which are a relatively new beast, have quickly risen to prominence during this current election cycle.

Super PACs are allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose a candidate for office. The only stipulation is that they can not co-ordinate directly with a candidate or campaign.

So, if I wanted to write a check for $20 million to "Americans for Job Security" (anti-Obama Super PAC), there would be nothing stopping me, and they could spend all of my $20 million to oppose President Barack Obama. The only stipulation is that they would not be able to co-ordinate directly with Mitt Romney and his campaign.

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The ten most active Super PACs over the past 30 days:

NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE, $23,661,219
Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, $23,448,477
American Crossroads, $18,280,198
US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, $11,300,000
Priorities USA Action, $11,159,146
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, $11,153,933
House Majority PAC, $10,756,509
AMERICANS FOR JOB SECURITY, $8,228,539
DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, $8,129,207
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES P E O P L E, $6,382,311

The ten biggest single expenditures of the past 30 days:

AMERICANS FOR JOB SECURITY spent $8,165,368 to oppose OBAMA, BARACK
Type: Media Placement

American Crossroads spent $6,186,676 to oppose OBAMA, BARACK
Type: TV / MEDIA PLACEMENT

AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY spent $5,718,406 to oppose Obama, Barack
Type: Advertising-TV placement (Replace)

Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies spent $5,329,340 to oppose OBAMA, BARACK
Type: TV / MEDIA PLACEMENT

Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies spent $5,329,340 to oppose OBAMA, BARACK
Type: TV / MEDIA PLACEMENT

American Crossroads spent $5,314,225 to oppose OBAMA, BARACK
Type: TV / MEDIA PLACEMENT

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE spent $3,760,710 to oppose Barack, Obama
Type: Media Production, Creative and Focus Group

Priorities USA Action spent $2,999,607 to oppose Romney, Mitt
Type: Media TV Advertising Buy

Priorities USA Action spent $2,334,979 to oppose Romney, Mitt
Type: Media TV Advertising Buy

Priorities USA Action spent $2,113,139 to oppose Romney, Mitt
Type: Media TV Advertising Buy

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Barack Obama was the favorite target of Super PACs over the past 30 days - nearly $60 million was spent to oppose Obama and his re-election bid.

Mitt Romney was the second favorite target of Super PACs over the past 30 days, as over $18.6 million was spent to oppose his campaign for the White House.

Other favorite targets of Super PACs over the past 30 days included:

Bill Nelson, $3,952,158
Sherrod Brown, $3,635,861
Tammy Baldwin, $2,892,275

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As mentioned, Super PACs can support candidates for office as well - these candidates for office received the most support from Super PACs over the past 30 days:

BARACK OBAMA, $3,118,294
MITT ROMNEY, $1,715,780
CONNIE MACK, $1,694,974
Brad Sherman, $1,153,319
JOE WALSH, $1,038,933
Josh Mandel, $863,069
Tammy Baldwin, $625,732
Heitkamp Heidi, $544,191
RANDOLPH ALTSCHULER, $478,580
GEORGE ALLEN, $445,463

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Expect Super PACs to continue to break the bank in October as the election approaches..

Source: Super PAC Spending

Filed under: General Knowledge