Today, Sarah Palin's political action committee, SarahPAC, announced it raised $2.1 million in 2009, including $1.4 million in the year's last six months.
Chris Cillizza notes that while the PAC pulled in less than Mitt Romney's Free and Strong America committee, that wing of her political operation lay largely dormant.
Sarah PAC sent no direct mail -- a potential treasure trove of small-dollar donations for the former governor who is beloved by the grassroots of the party -- and raised the majority of her money via the Internet and small events. For the 11 months that Sarah PAC has existed, she has received contributions from more than 14,000 donors.
Palin's case is unique and makes comparison slightly unwieldy. On one hand, she didn't do a lot of active fundraising, so the $2.1 million number looks great. On the other hand, her book tour and name ID provides her with a shot in the arm the other candidates don't have. That makes the total respectable, but not overwhelming.
James Richardson has a good look at each of the front-runner's PAC totals (Mitt's, Huck's,
Handicapped by late entry, Tim Pawlenty’s group, Freedom First PAC, raised only $1.28 million last year. Pawlenty aides note, however, the committee was organized in October and fundraising totals account only for the fourth quarter, whereas Romney’s committee has been operating all year.
In the fourth quarter, Pawlenty transferred $395,000 to Republican candidates — a figure more than double what Romney’s PAC contributed over the entire year.
.... PAC operatives for each committee will argue the metrics for judging each committee differ, but the ultimate arbiter in politics is cold, hard cash; who has it, who knows how to get more of it, and who shares it will win the popularity contest we have come to know as the presidential nominating process. On this count, Pawlenty is, hands down, the front-runner.
CORRECTION: I transposed Sarah's name for Huck's on JR's analysis. Weekend haze.
And a reader notes that T-Paw didn't xfer $395K to candidates. That's the approx. number he spent total -- not the amt. he gave to candidates (you can read more about those candidates here). Still, his fourth quarter fundraising remains impressive.
