Palin's PAC Raises $700,000+
Update, 4:10 p.m.: Palin has collected at least $200,000 more for Sarah PAC since the reporting period closed at the end of last month, according to a source familiar with the numbers. Palin's resignation -- announced on July 3 -- triggered a flood of donations to the PAC, the source added.
Original Post
Sarah PAC, the political action committee formed by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin earlier this year to maintain her national profile, raised $733,000 in the first six months of the year, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission today.
During that same time period, Palin spent $276,000 --largely on fundraising appeals and consultants -- and ended June with $457,000 in the bank. None of Palin's contributions came from political action committees, an attempt -- seemingly -- to preserve her outsider and reform credentials. Palin's largest expenditure went to "Edonation.com/Campaign Solutions", the fundraising company run by Becki Donatelli and based in Alexandria, Virginia. Sarah PAC doled out roughly $106,000 to the firm for fundraising during the first six months of the year.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads the way in terms of fundraising by potential 2012 Republican candidates. Romney showed nearly $1.4 million raised through his Free and Strong America PAC at the end of May.
Palin's showing is, however, a sign that she can raise cash at the national level and that she will be a player in the 2010 midterm elections if she, as expected, chooses to involve herself in downballot races. It is all the more impressive given the chaos that surrounded her operation -- and herself -- over the first half of 2009. If Palin can spend her time out of office organizing a serious national effort, these numbers suggest the financial support is out there to help her.
Washington Post - By Chris Cillizza July 13, 2009; 2:05 PM ET
See FEC Report here:
http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00458588/423110/
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