Super PACs and George – what else?
The presidential contest looks set to become the costliest in history after recently passing the $2 billion fundraising mark. Ordinary citizens, billionaires, anonymous donors and shadowy groups have all been digging deep.
Fundraisers for Obama and Romney have reportedly brought in $1.7 million, with nearly $300 million from so-called super PACs, independent super political committees, and non-profit groups have added tens of millions more. These have helped bankroll the barrage of TV ads and posters in the nine decisive battleground states.
As well as mere mortals, binders of Hollywood female A-listers and American pop stars like Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z have also been backing Barack, while Kid Rock and Meat Loaf have been rooting for Romney.
Switzerland has also been on the fundraising trail this year, as in 2008. Click here to read a recent swissinfo.ch story on how Obama and Romney hunt for bucks abroad.
Obama’s charm ambassador George Clooney flew in to Geneva in August to headline a $15,000 (SFr14,500)-plate intimate dinner fundraiser, thought to have raised several hundred thousand dollars.
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