$2 billion price tag for presidential election

WASHINGTON Campaign finance filings with the government now show that the cost of the 2012 U.S. presidential race has surpassed $2 billion, a new record.

The new tallies released Thursday, which include nearly $86 million in fundraising by Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in the election's final weeks, boosted the total campaign haul over the $2 billion mark.

The campaign's record-breaking expenditures on media ads were fueled by eye-popping amounts donated to "super" political action committees, including at least $95 million supporting Romney and other Republicans that came from a billionaire Las Vegas casino magnate.

Casino owner Sheldon Adelson and his wife gave $23 million to a super PAC headed by GOP strategist Karl Rove and $10 million to a pro-Romney political committee in recent weeks.

[Wingsfan1983]

And we wonder why we spend more than our GDP. Next time let's vote for a candidate that will donate half of their campaign funds for worthy causes like victims for Sandy or college educations for underprivileged.

I am sick of Gordon Gecko

[antoniof123]

You morons don't get it do you this is not about Republicans vs. Democrats. I keep reading this is bais NO it is not the point was correct OVER 2 BILLION DOLLARS spent on this election it was a record.

That means they both spent 1 BILLION each MORONS. YOU DON'T GET IT, not a single job was created. Think about it besides the election is ober Romney lost PERIOD.

Now I hope some of your realize this is not a problem with just Republicans it is also Democrats.

MORONS.

[Wingsfan1983]

True it was a problem with both Dems and GOP, but let me ask if the Dems had not retaliated with some $ what would the results have been. Society did not pay much attention to third parties this election year.

[skeezix06]

Obscene.

[Wingsfan1983]

Very true. On our tax forms we have a box "would you like to contribute to the Presidential Campaign". I would rather have it contribute to the national debt.

It was a bail out for the USPS, CBS, numerous websites and radio. Again where will those profits go towards?

New commercials for pharmaceutical products have replaced them and they are not much better either.

[RollotheNorman]

Whatever will Willard and Karl tell Sheldon and the Koch Bros when they come asking for a refund?

[Wingsfan1983]

Na they got what they paid for. Now we as a public have to realize to not patronize their establishments. Each time we go to Vegas we encourage them to pick pocket our futures to line their pockets for massive donations to Rove and Norquest.

JUST SICK! Spend local not moue local

[gman16506]

Must agree with some of the other comments, this article is very misleading and should share the "details" if that is the purpose of the article. CBS...why should I have to go to another source to find that Obama out-spent Romney by a cool $100,000,000 (and out-raised him too). CBS, your better than this and only gives the Right ammo for their claims about the mainstream media.

[johnlockesghost]

Hmmmph, 2 billion dollars for a presidential election that wasn't worth a dime.

[royalstar05]

No.

[captntrond]

This is absolutely obscene. What the hell happened to of the people, for the people? We have got to get big money out of politics.

[thechooch1]

Talk to the Supreme Court, they have screwed this up royally.

[Filmguy870]

The Supreme Court needs to revisit this....

[gretchenj173]

$2 Billion dollars on an election? Imagine what could have been done to help the victims of domestic violence, the homeless, the disadvantaged with that kind of money??!! Instead it is spent on 'self'. Pitiful and pathetic.

[michaelthefirst]

god damn pathetic (cbs-see the bs)