While the pro-Obama super PAC is still a small player, Obama’s campaign committee has far outpaced the Republican candidates’ committees in fund-raising - pulling in $125 million, compared to $56 million for Romney, his closest rival in the money chase. Obama has also been fund-raising with the Democratic National Committee. Legally, a party can accept larger donations than a candidate can.
“That [super PAC] hasn’t really caught on with progressive donors,’’ said Anthony Corrado, professor of government at Colby College. “There are plenty of ways to support the president without having to give to a super PAC. At this point, the expectation is the president’s campaign committee will be very well-funded, and he’s not going to need the additional resources a super PAC might generate.’’
Super PACs can accept unlimited campaign contributions but cannot coordinate with the candidates. Campaign committees, which are affiliated with the candidate, are subject to strict campaign finance limits.
So far, with no contested primary on the Democratic side, Priorities USA Action has spent around $320,000, all of it on media buys - including web videos - attacking Romney. That is pocket change compared to the millions spent by super PACS supporting GOP candidates. (Another liberal super PAC, American Bridge 21st Century, is also raising money for opposition research against Republicans.)
Priorities USA Action was founded by Bill Burton, Obama’s former deputy press secretary, and Sean Sweeney, a former top aide to Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel. Much of Priorities USA’s money comes from a small number of donors. The Service Employees International Union, a labor union with over 2 million members, was among Obama’s biggest funders in the 2008 election, gave $1 million.
Many other donors came from Hollywood. The biggest donor was film mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive of Dreamworks Animation, who gave $2 million. Katzenberg is a bundler for Obama and has hosted fund-raisers for him.
