The big take away from yesterday's campaign finance filings: Barack Obama broke another campaign fundraising record as his campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) combined to bring in $247 million. That's the most for an non-election year. (Fundrace previous reported that Obama had fallen short, but that was based on a leaked amount from the campaign. The actual filings show a higher amount.) Mitt Romney is far out-pacing his competition in raising money. And then there's the super PACs.
HuffPost: "As 2008 was the year of the small donor contacted and engaged over the Internet, 2012 is set to be the year of the mega-donor. Millionaires, billionaires and their corporate entities are lining up to give $250,000 to $1 million, or more, to super PACs created to help their favored candidate or position. With the money that has already flooded into the Republican primary, super PACs have routinely outspent candidate campaigns on television advertising in the early-voting states.
In total, super PACs raised $96 million in 2011. Republican groups dominated the arms race. The top 10 Republican super PACs raised $65.6 million, compared to $20.5 million raised by the top 10 Democratic super PACs."
Want to follow how much the candidates have raised over the past year? Check out HuffPost's new interactive graphic.
One of the other big reveals from yesterday was that Crossroads GPS, a dark money group that will never reveal its donors, declared that it had raised $33 million in 2011. That's more than any of the super PACs.
Sheldon Adelson's family members provided most of the money for Newt Gingrich's super PAC. The group only disclosed $2 million in donations, none from Adelson himself, who likely gave money in January.
Senate Democrats declared today that they will launch an investigation into super PACs. Eliza reports, "'We're now living in a world created by the Citizens United decision, and it’s a disaster for our democracy,' Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said at a Capitol Hill news conference with Sens. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). Schumer was referring to the landmark 2010 Supreme Court ruling that allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited treasury money on campaigns."
Rick Hasen has three very important thoughts on Citizens United and the way journalists talk about it.
Sunlight's Lee Drutman has five take-aways on the super PAC filings.
On non-campaign filing news: You should follow the Auction 2012 series that HuffPost is doing in partnership with MSNBC's Dylan Ratigan Show. Check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
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: Mitt Romney for President
Spot: "One-Term Proposition"
Link: [http://youtu.be/kOhl4Sx7mGw]
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.
Committee: Red White And Blue Fund
Candidate supported: Rick Santorum
Spot: "Trust"
Link: [http://youtu.be/17g3HmRxPzc]
Market: Missouri.
Buy: Undisclosed.
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), $2,640,085 to support, $16,279,249 to oppose.
Mitt Romney (R), $1,522,596 to support, $4,403,187 to oppose. (Support: +$48,379, Oppose: +$9,200)
Rick Perry (R), $3,964,824 to support, $0 to oppose.
Ron Paul (R), $3,576,966 to support, $165,339 to oppose. (+$10,472)
Jon Huntsman (R), $2,453,204 to support, $0 to oppose.
Rick Santorum (R), $1,810,519 to support, $444,355 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $25,122 to support, $630,124 to oppose.
Herman Cain (R), $486,717 to support, $0 to oppose.
Gary Johnson (R), $518 to support, $0 to oppose.
RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
Restore Our Future, $48,379 to support Mitt Romney for President in Florida.
Winning Our Future, $9,200 to oppose Mitt Romney for President in Florida.
Endorse Liberty, $10,472 to support Ron Paul for President.
RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS
NONE.
Send tips, hints, submissions, rumors to HuffPost Fundrace at paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.