Obama outspends Republican campaigns by millions

JACK GILLUM STEVE PEOPLES Associated Press Published:


Republican contenders like Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum have surely been watching their expenses during their primary elections: millions here for ad spending, millions there for travel, rallies and consulting fees. What's left keeps the lights on, the phones ringing and the staff paid.


Republicans bristle over reports that Obama's paid staff exceeds 500, many of whom work in the campaign's Chicago headquarters.


A review of Obama's balance sheets reveals a small army of paid staffers trying to help the Democratic president win a second term. Campaign filings list more than 330 paid staffers in Chicago and 200 more spread across the country -- payroll costs that exceed $6.3 million during the last two months alone.

The numbers also suggest signs of stress.

Obama's team has spent more than $7 million since January on fundraising-related expenses like postage, printing and telemarketing, in some cases to contact the same kind of low-dollar donors who supported Obama four years ago. The campaign also spent millions more on expenses like online advertising and consulting, which in some cases can be tied to fundraising.






Obama's operation had $84.7 million in cash-on-hand by Feb. 29. But the Romney campaign -- which is hardly hurting for cash after raising about $74.8 million -- says it's not impressed.

Romney's Boston-based campaign is a fraction of the size of Obama's, although its organization dwarfs its Republican competitors. With around 100 paid staffers, Romney has spent more than $180,000 in rent and utilities since early January in at least 16 states, records show, from Massachusetts to Utah. Santorum, whose national headquarters was technically a post office box until this month, spent just $19,000 since the beginning of the year on rent-related expenses.


"As Republican primary voters in Illinois, we have an opportunity to look at the field of candidates, and look at them and say, 'Who can go toe-to-toe not just with Barack Obama, but the Chicago machine that is his operation?'" Rep. Aaron Schock, a top Romney supporter in Illinois, said recently. "We cannot afford to nominate someone on our ticket who cannot withstand the barrage, who does not have the organizational strength and fortitude to go toe-to-toe with Barack Obama."

Obama's massive campaign is part of what drives supporters to give money to "super" political action committees popping up this election cycle. Major super PACs like American Crossroads, which supports Republicans, and Restore Our Future, which supports Romney, have tens of millions of dollars apiece to help, thanks to federal court rulings that have stripped campaign-finance rules to allow unlimited -- and, at times, effectively anonymous -- donations from billionaires, corporations and labor unions.

"As a general rule, the big institutional money goes inordinately to incumbents regardless of party, while outside money plays the role of balancing out the party in power or stopping a specific initiative," Crossroads spokesman Jonathan Collegio said. GOP-leaning super PACs have spent more than $50 million on TV ads this election; Crossroads is largely waiting to spend its money until the general election.


The Republican Party has opened offices in three states this month and plans to expand to four others in April.


Gillum reported from Washington.


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