HUFFPOST FUNDRACE -- Seamus Gets A Super PAC

By Paul Blumenthal

Apparently, all it takes to raise super PAC money to support President Barack Obama is to talk about Mitt Romney's dog. A Democratic donor is launching a super PAC devoted solely to telling the story of Seamus the dog and his brave highway journey atop the Romney family car during a 12-hour ride to Canada. The super PAC -- Animal Lovers Against Romney -- is said to have $1 million to start its campaign to let the world know about Seamus. The web site for Animal Lovers Against Romney states: "Mitt is a mean dude. If Romney treats his own pet like this, how do you think he'll treat you? Romney has already made it clear that he doesn't care about the cares and concerns of poor people and working families."

Rick Santorum's allied super PAC is entering the fray in Wisconsin with announced spending of just under $500,000. That brings the Wisconsin super PAC race to just under $2 million total with Romney's super PAC outspending Santorum's 3 to 1. Here's the breakdown on super PAC spending in the Badger state:

Anti-Santorum: $1,488,242
Anti-Romney: $493,561
Pro-Gingrich: $11,957

The Romney super PAC is reportedly moving on to New York, Delaware, and Connecticut as it seeks to solidify Romney's chances of crossing the threshold of delegates needed to secure the GOP nomination before the end of the primary campaign.

Newt Gingrich's campaign looks like it is completely broke and deep in debt. No matter, the candidate will continue touring the country's finest zoos and charging freedom-loving panda and polar bears $50 to take a photograph with him.

ProPublica has an extensive report on the ties between the presidential campaigns and the super PACs. The report analyzes expenditures made by both campaigns and super PACs and finds, "In some cases, payees serve both candidates and the super PACs aligned with them, raising the specter that groups may be working together in ways that violate the rules, campaign finance experts said. We also found instances in which overseers of some political action committees directed hefty fees to their own companies, a legal form of self-dealing."

Is there a better way to prove your Reagan street cred in a Republican presidential primary than by raising money at a Jelly Belly factory? Rick Santorum is doing just that by attending a $1,000-a-head fundraiser at Jelly Belly's headquarters. President Reagan was very, very fond of jelly beans and the head of Jelly Belly is very, very fond of Republicans having contributed tens-of-thousands of dollars to free market, Republican-supporting super PACs since 2010.

House Democrats are calling on Obama to recess appoint new commissioners to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Five out of six FEC commissioners are serving despite expired terms and campaign finance reformers and others have noted that the FEC has become a broken agency due to partisan intransigence. The commission has failed to adopt new rules to cover the disclosure of newly allowed campaign spending post-Citizens United. Of course, the FEC's dysfunctionality is not exactly new news. There's a book sitting on Fundrace's desk by Brooks Jackson titled "Broken Promise: Why The Federal Election Commission Failed." It was published in 1990.

Outside groups are beginning their pivot to Obama for the coming billion dollar-plus election campaign.

AD WATCH

Help us populate our list of campaign videos. Send any notable TV, radio or web ads that you see to Fundrace. Send your submissions to paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.

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TRACKING INDEPENDENT SPENDING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE:

These numbers represent spending by independent groups, like super PACs and non-profits, to support or oppose a particular candidate for the presidency in 2012. Fundrace will update this spending daily to help show which candidates are gaining from the proliferation of independent groups in this coming election.

Newt Gingrich (R), $12,817,294 to support, $18,881,563 to oppose.
Rick Santorum (R), $7,396,653 to support, $18,347,430 to oppose.
Mitt Romney (R), $2,525,334 to support, $6,954,575 to oppose. (+$493,561)
Rick Perry (R), $4,167,697 to support, $1,404 to oppose.
Ron Paul (R), $3,748,218 to support, $214,158 to oppose.
Jon Huntsman (R), $2,453,204 to support, $0 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $282,298 to support, $979,322 to oppose.
Herman Cain (R), $501,717 to support, $954 to oppose.
Gary Johnson (R), $518 to support, $0 to oppose.

RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES

Red White And Blue Fund, $493,561 to oppose Mitt Romney for President in Wisconsin.

RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS

Dick Morris Take Back America Fund, Sacramento, Calif., Treasurer: Thomas W. Hiltachk.
Austal USA LLC PAC, Mobile, Ala., Treasurer: Brian Ray Leathers.
Peeps PAC,, Salt Lake City, Utah, Treasurer: Nick Kemp. (Super PAC)
Neutralizing Force, Manchester, N.H., Treasurer: Paul Fischler. (Super PAC)
Health Pal, Warren, Ohio, Treasurer: Chris L. Litton.
RBC USA Holdco Corporation PAC, New York, N.Y., Treasurer: Steven Decico.
Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Yesterday, Durham, N.C., Treasurer: Stefani Jones. (Super PAC)
NY Life And Freedom PAC, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Treasurer: Devin Noonan.

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