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Campaign fund documents show that Mitt Romney is far more dependent on very wealthy donors than any other presidential candidate, making him even more vulnerable to accusations that he's too close to the rich.
The former Massachusetts governor has raised just 9% of his campaign funds from small donors - contributions of $200 or less, an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics has revealed.
And that doesn't include money given to the Romney-friendly super PACs, which have collected many more millions from the very rich. About 98% of the donations to the Restore Our Future super PAC were over $25,000.
All of Romney's Republican opponents have raised a much greater portion of their campaign money from small donors. Roughly one-third of Rick Santorum's funds came from small donors in 2011; for Newt Gingrich, the amount was about half; and for Ron Paul, the figure was 52%.
And so far, about 47% of President Barack Obama's campaign funds have come from small donors.
The surge of donations from the wealthy has put Romney far ahead of all of his GOP rivals in terms of total dollars raised as well. He brought in $56.5 million in 2011, compared to Paul's $26 million, Gingrich's $12.6 million and Santorum's $2.2 million.
That advantage, combined with the $18 million raised by Restore Our Future, helped pay for the barrage of television ads in Florida that turned a comfortable Gingrich lead into a 15-point Romney victory in less than 10 days.
In essence, rich donors bought the Florida primary for Romney.
The former Massachusetts governor has raised just 9% of his campaign funds from small donors - contributions of $200 or less, an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics has revealed.
And that doesn't include money given to the Romney-friendly super PACs, which have collected many more millions from the very rich. About 98% of the donations to the Restore Our Future super PAC were over $25,000.
All of Romney's Republican opponents have raised a much greater portion of their campaign money from small donors. Roughly one-third of Rick Santorum's funds came from small donors in 2011; for Newt Gingrich, the amount was about half; and for Ron Paul, the figure was 52%.
And so far, about 47% of President Barack Obama's campaign funds have come from small donors.
The surge of donations from the wealthy has put Romney far ahead of all of his GOP rivals in terms of total dollars raised as well. He brought in $56.5 million in 2011, compared to Paul's $26 million, Gingrich's $12.6 million and Santorum's $2.2 million.
That advantage, combined with the $18 million raised by Restore Our Future, helped pay for the barrage of television ads in Florida that turned a comfortable Gingrich lead into a 15-point Romney victory in less than 10 days.
In essence, rich donors bought the Florida primary for Romney.
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And when voters learn more about who exactly is funding the Romney campaign, they'll be even less pleased. Yesterday's (Wednesday) disclosure of many of the donors to Restore Our Future included plenty of names that could prove unpopular with the American public.
The list of those who made large contributions to Restore Our Future include former associates from Bain Capital, hedge fund managers - including John Paulson - and senior executives from Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS).
When added to Romney's well-publicized personal wealth, low tax rates and history overseeing leveraged buyouts at Bain Capital, the sources of his campaign funds has created a narrative increasingly difficult to defend.
And Romney isn't helping his case. Just yesterday he added another thread to the story while speaking on CNN.
"I'm not concerned about the very poor," Romney said. "We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it. I'm not concerned about the very rich. They're doing just fine. I'm concerned about the very heart of America, the 90-95% of Americans who are struggling."
Opponents seized upon the first sentence.
Although the Florida primary victory has made Romney the presumptive Republican nominee, his apparent allegiance to the rich will make him vulnerable to Democratic attacks in the fall.
With his frequent calls for "fairness" and taxes on millionaires and billionaires, President Obama has already laid the groundwork for an opponent that can easily be painted as beholden to the rich.
And having raised $125 million in campaign funds already, President Obama will have plenty of money - and material - for ads depicting Romney as a millionaire out of touch with the middle class.
"Mitt Romney has given the Obama team so many buzzwords," said Joe Scarborough on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program Monday. "Swissbankaccount, Cayman Islands, "I like firing people,' 14 percent, "let the market bottom out,' pink slips, "I know what it's like to be unemployed.' You could go on and on. He has set himself up for a November killing."
News and Related Story Links:
The list of those who made large contributions to Restore Our Future include former associates from Bain Capital, hedge fund managers - including John Paulson - and senior executives from Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS).
When added to Romney's well-publicized personal wealth, low tax rates and history overseeing leveraged buyouts at Bain Capital, the sources of his campaign funds has created a narrative increasingly difficult to defend.
And Romney isn't helping his case. Just yesterday he added another thread to the story while speaking on CNN.
"I'm not concerned about the very poor," Romney said. "We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it. I'm not concerned about the very rich. They're doing just fine. I'm concerned about the very heart of America, the 90-95% of Americans who are struggling."
Opponents seized upon the first sentence.
Although the Florida primary victory has made Romney the presumptive Republican nominee, his apparent allegiance to the rich will make him vulnerable to Democratic attacks in the fall.
With his frequent calls for "fairness" and taxes on millionaires and billionaires, President Obama has already laid the groundwork for an opponent that can easily be painted as beholden to the rich.
And having raised $125 million in campaign funds already, President Obama will have plenty of money - and material - for ads depicting Romney as a millionaire out of touch with the middle class.
"Mitt Romney has given the Obama team so many buzzwords," said Joe Scarborough on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program Monday. "Swissbankaccount, Cayman Islands, "I like firing people,' 14 percent, "let the market bottom out,' pink slips, "I know what it's like to be unemployed.' You could go on and on. He has set himself up for a November killing."
News and Related Story Links:
- Money Morning:
How Super PACs Are Choosing Your Next President - Money Morning:
How Bain Capital Could Sink Mitt Romney - Money Morning:
Wealthy Congressmen Don't Feel Your Pain - Money Morning:
The Debt Ceiling Debate: Will the Democrats' Gambit Lead to a Victory in the 2012 Election? - The Washington Post:
Romney barrels out of Florida with momentum and money, says GOP fight strengthens him for fall - Center for Responsive Politics:
Newest Campaign Reports Show Ramped-Up Chase for Cash - The New York Times:
Who's Financing the "Super PACs' - Reuters:
Records show how wealthy shape presidential race
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Tags: campaign donations, Campaign funds, donations, Election 2012, Mitt ROmeny news, Mitt Romney 2012, Mitt Romney taxes, presidential candidate, replublican nominee, small group donors, super pack, super-rich donors
In related news… How I love the quaint traditions surrounding Groundhog Day: Like clockwork, Newt Gingrich again emerged early from a mistress's home, saw his shadow & then divorced another wife. I so wish I had the video to share, but as substitute, check out this funny YouTube video that mixes a little politics
Let's see
Romney 56 million
Obama 125 million with 53% from large donors = 66 million = more than Romney's total !!
garnered from rich "friends" at $36,000 a plate dinners !!
This article is as slanted as MSNBC's "Joe" is.
HoHum…