Fundraising: Obama, Democrats - $68 million; Romney - $24 million; Rove - $51 million

[ProSense]

Obama, Democrats raise $68 million for US elections

Republicans got a stark reminder Thursday of President Barack Obama's juggernaut re-election campaign, as he and his Democratic party scooped up nearly $70 million in the last months of 2011.

While the Republican White House hopefuls stumped in South Carolina and Florida -- which hold their primaries on January 21 and 31 respectively -- Obama campaign chief Jim Messina announced the robust haul of campaign cash.

The Democratic total included more than $42 million for the embattled president's fight for a second term, a pitched battle shaped by the sour US economy and voter concerns about high unemployment.

Another $24 million filled the coffers of the Democratic National Committee, which acts as the White House's political arm and will fund Democratic candidates at all levels in the November 6 elections.

- more -

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-democrats-raise-68-million-us-elections-131042420.html

The Obama campaign is out with its FEC report for the final quarter of 2011. From a spokesman:

“In the 4th quarter of 2011, $68 million were raised to help reelect President Obama. 583,000 donors gave to the campaign in q4, 200,000 of whom had never given before, even in 2008. The average contribution this quarter was $55, and 98 percent of our contributions were $250 or less.”

The number is a combined total that includes fundraising for the DNC as well. The campaign also included a list of campaign bundlers, now posted online. As the Obama campaign likes to note, none of the Republican candidates make their top fundraisers available.

- more -

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/updates/4921

Romney Campaign Took In Over $24 Million In Fourth Quarter

The Romney campaign just filed its financial disclosure report with the Federal Election Commission, showing the group took in $24.27 million in the final three months of 2011 while spending $19.01 million.

Romney’s campaign had $19.91 million on hand as of Dec. 31, according to the report.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/updates/4942

Major GOP 'super PAC' raised $51 million in 2011

By JACK GILLUM

WASHINGTON (AP) — American Crossroads, the Republican "super" political committee that plans to play a major role in this year's presidential campaign, raised more than $51 million along with its nonprofit arm last year, The Associated Press has learned.

The figures from Crossroads — the group backed by former George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove — were among the first financial reports being made public Tuesday, the deadline for super PACs and presidential candidates to file financial reports with federal election officials. The AP obtained the Crossroads figures ahead of the Federal Election Commission.

While most recent public attention has focused on groups spending major sums for negative TV ads assailing GOP presidential primary rivals Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, Tuesday's figures are a sign of even greater spending to come in the general election battle between the Republican nominee and Democratic President Barack Obama.

Other super PACs required to disclose their donors Tuesday include Restore Our Future, the Romney-leaning PAC that has contributed to a deluge of ads hammering Gingrich, and Winning Our Future, the Gingrich-supportive group that has been critical of Romney's time at a venture capital firm. Both super PACs are run in part by former advisers to the candidates.

- more -

http://news.yahoo.com/major-gop-super-pac-raised-51-million-2011-211423445.html

[Old and In the Way]

1. Funny how the Republican $ doesn't mention the # donors or the average contribution.

Mitt and Newt will never report anything like this-

583,000 donors gave to the campaign in q4, 200,000 of whom had never given before, even in 2008. The average contribution this quarter was $55, and 98 percent of our contributions were $250 or less.

[Faux pas]

2. Think of all the people that could be fed, clothed and sheltered with all that money....

what an f-ing waste.

That is all.

[ProSense]

3. True. but

"Think of all the people that could be fed, clothed and sheltered with all that money...."

I'm thinking more along the lines of allocating the more than $2 billion per week that was spent on war to that effort.

Could you imagine?