* Pro-Obama group out-raised pro-Romney group in September
* Second strong month for Democratic spending groups
By Alina Selyukh and Patrick Temple-West
WASHINGTON, Oct 20 (Reuters) – Democratic donors gave
unprecedented amounts of money in September to their party’s
three main “Super PACs,” federal disclosures revealed on Friday,
a reflection of how wealthy Democrats’ reluctance to give to
such groups has faded in the weeks before the Nov. 6 election.
A fundraising laggard for much of the campaign, the
political action committee (PAC) backing President Barack Obama
raised more than a rival group backing Republican Mitt Romney,
the second consecutive month the Democratic group had done so.
The pro-Obama group Priorities USA Action said it raised
$15.2 million in September, compared with $14.8 million for the
pro-Romney group Restore Our Future, according to filings with
the Federal Election Commission.
Restore Our Future, a formidable advertising force whose
attack ads on Romney’s Republican rivals helped him secure the
party’s presidential nomination, began the crucial month of
October with $16.6 million in cash on hand. On Saturday,
Priorities’ filings are due to reveal its cash on hand and
donors for September.
Early this year, many Democratic donors were reluctant to
donate to PACs supporting their party’s candidates because they
disliked the idea of contributing to attack ads and other
negative advertising – a staple of spending by groups known as
“Super PACs” because they have no limits on how much they can
raise and spend.
In recent months, fundraising for Democratic PACs has
accelerated to counter the waves of anti-Obama and
anti-Democratic ads from Republican groups.
Meanwhile, the Democratic PACs seeking to help candidates
win House of Representatives and Senate seats also saw donations
rise in September.
Majority PAC, the group helping Democratic candidates for
the Senate, announced on Friday its biggest cash haul since its
creation in 2010: $10.4 million in September, and another $9.7
million during the first week of October.
Its sister group, House Majority PAC, also had its best
month in September and is on track to double that in October, an
aide to the group said.
CONTROL OF CONGRESS
Democrats need a net gain of 25 seats to become the majority
party in the 435-seat House, an outcome that most pollsters see
as unlikely. Republicans need a net gain of four seats to take
control of the Senate. Most pollsters also see that as unlikely.
Scores of Republican PACs and tax-exempt groups have been
formed to support Republican House and Senate candidates.
Tax-exempt groups do not disclose their finances; disclosures of
the most influential Super PAC, American Crossroads, are due
later on Saturday.
Restore Our Future, the PAC that supports Romney, reported
on Friday that its largest donors included Texas home builder
Bob Perry and billionaire Harold Simmons. Perry gave $2 million
in September and leads all donors with $10 million contributed
to Restore Our Future during this election cycle. Simmons gave
$500,000 for the month, increasing his total to the group to
$1.3 million.
Republicans showed greater fundraising strength at the party
level in September.
The Republican National Committee raised $48.4 million and
ended September with $82.6 million in cash on hand. Its
Democratic counterpart took out a large loan.
The Democratic National Committee, which has focused on
races for the Senate and House, raised $20.3 million in
September and borrowed $10.5 million. It ended September $20.5
million in debt, according to its filing with the FEC.
A DNC representative declined to comment on the reason for
the debt and how it might affect Democratic candidates in the
final two weeks before the election. The party had $4.6 million
in cash on hand heading into October.
The RNC reported $9.9 million in debt at the end of
September, with its $82.6 million in cash on hand.
Unlike the DNC, the Republican Party has been working
closely with its presidential candidate, Romney, who heavily
relies on its grassroots operation. On the Democratic side,
Obama’s campaign has a huge grassroots organization itself and
does not need such help from its party.
