In final days of campaign, Obama camp outspent Romney

CBS/AP

In the final weeks of the presidential campaign, President Obama's campaign outraised Mitt Romney's campaign by more than $37 million dollars, according to documents filed Thursday night with the Federal Election Commission, even though Romney ended the race with nearly $25 million in the bank.

According to the FEC reports, the president's campaign, combined with a joint campaign/Democratic National Committee fundraising committee, spent $234.4 million between October 18 and November 26, while the Romney campaign, in tandem with the Republican National Committee, spent $197 million dollars.

The Obama team also outraised Romney as Election Day drew near: In the same October-November window, Romney for President and Romney Victory committees announced fundraising totals of over $85.9 million; the Obama campaign and the Obama Victory committees raised $111 million during that period.

Both campaigns spent much of their cash on political advertising and outreach efforts during the end of the campaign, though travel and payroll expenses were also significant sources of spending.

Romney closed out the campaign with a total of $24.4 million cash on hand, while Mr. Obama had $14.2 million combined. According to the Romney campaign, however, the final figure "does not take into account spending currently in process."

"The campaign continues to process invoices for pre-election expenses and forecasts that there will be less than $1 million at year end," Romney campaign spokesperson Gail Gitcho wrote in an email.

According to the FEC, the pro-Obama super PAC Priorities Action USA spent $20.9 million between October 18 and November 26, and had $4.3 million in cash on hand as of the latest filing. The pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future had $842,062 left.

Ultimately, the presidential campaign was the most expensive in U.S. history, racking up a price tag of more than $2 billion.

[Orenobocy]

If the outcome of the election were not so sad, all this could be considered amusing. Obama's theme was that Romney shouldn't be elected because he is rich. Yet Obama had/spent more money to buy the election than Romney. So, who is the rich?

[bobnjersey]

[So, who is the rich?]
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romney is the rich one ... as were many of his core contributors.

who won the contest doesn't change that.

[catmomtx]

They didn't count the Super PAC's that donated to each of the candidates.

[todaypost]

You called contribution by the super pac as political contribution, I called it tax for the super rich. Too bad the final tab is not 2 trillion dollar, that would pump up the economy.

[redbeachvn]

I don't understand why Willard didn't ask Adelson for more money?

[no1blonde]

Only because Romney thought he had the election in the bag.

[gman16506]

you are kidding aren't you? Or are you just shocked that Obama outspend/outraised the Republicans after all the talk about the money sources that were donating to them. My advise is to pay no attention to Fox, MSNBC, or the msm.....they all have their agendas.

[no1blonde]

Nope, not shocked - just realistic. The Romney pundits had thought it was all downhill, if not they would have been stuffing the airwaves. BTW, if I am to not pay attention, why are you? Oh yeah...your agenda. Geez.

[joncanuk777]

Political office is for sale around the world, it's just in the US it has reached record cost levels.