The super PAC that has provided much of the muscle for Mitt Romney’s presidential bid spent $5.3 million on Tuesday alone, disclosures filed Wednesday showed. Even in a state with multiple major media
markets, the sum will be tough to reckon with.
The one-day splurge exceeds the amount given to a super PAC supporting Newt Gingrich by Mr. Gingrich’s chief patron, casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Mr. Adelson’s wife also contributed $5 million, according to reports.
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As Romney rivals focus on Mr. Romney’s income to cast him as out of touch—tax disclosures show he earned $21 million in 2010—the figure is dramatic in another way: The one-day spending is equal to a quarter
of Mr. Romney’s earnings over the year.
Tuesday’s buy will go mostly to television ads attacking Mr. Gingrich in Florida before the state’s Jan. 31 primary.
It will also pay for direct mail and phone calls, signaling that the super PAC is coming closer to traditional campaigning. Previously, they have focused on major ad buys.
The Romney super PAC has now spent $16 million attacking Mr. Gingrich. It has spent $750,000 on positive ads. Ten million dollars of its spending has been in Florida.
The super PACs are independent from the campaigns and fueled by a few wealthy donors.
