Romney Super PAC taps familiar face for big July donation
Supporters of Republican U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney cheer at the Chillicothe Victory rally in Chillicothe, Ohio in this August 14, 2012 photo. — Reuters pic WASHINGTON, Aug 21 — The outside fundraising group supporting presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney relied on a familiar ally for its largest donation in July — Houston-based home builder Bob Perry.
Perry gave US$2 million (RM6.24 million) to the pro-Romney “super” political action committee (PAC) Restore Our Future, bringing to US$8 million his total contributions to the fund this campaign season, according to Federal Election Commission documents released yesterday.
That made Perry, who has also given US$4.5 million to Republican-aligned Super PAC American Crossroads, the top Republican donor in July. Perry, a major financier of the “swift boat” campaign that attacked Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry’s military record in the 2004 election, is one of the top donors to super PACs this election cycle as Republicans try to unseat Democratic President Barack Obama in the November 6 election.
Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who along with members of his family have given the most to Republicans in this presidential season, did not donate to Republican super PACs in July.
The pro-Romney super PAC received a US$1 million donation from Renco Group Inc, owned by New York billionaire Ira Rennert, another frequent contributor to Republicans this year.
The super PACs, which are officially barred from coordinating with the candidates’ campaigns, can raise and spend unlimited funds and almost exclusively invest in advertising.
Restore Our Future spent US$7.2 million on an 11-state television ad campaign through Aug. 9, highlighting Romney’s work as head of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
In July, Restore Our Future raised US$7.5 million and spent US$8.2 million, election commission filings show.
The Super PAC American Crossroads, which was co-founded by President George W. Bush’s strategist Karl Rove, raised US$7.1 million in July and spent US$9.1 million. The group has vowed to spend US$200 million on defeating Obama.
TRT Holdings Inc, a privately held Texas company that owns Omni Hotels & Resorts and Gold’s Gym International, gave US$1 million to Crossroads in July. Robert Rowling, chairman of TRT Holdings, contributed US$1 million of his own money to Crossroads.
Both Rowling and his company have already given US$1 million each.
Rove’s Super PAC scooped up a US$1 million donation from Robert Mercer, co-CEO of hedge fund Renaissance Technologies. Mercer previously gave US$1 million to the pro-Romney Super PAC.
Stephens Inc, a Little Rock, Arkansas, broker dealer, gave Crossroads US$1 million. Indiana-based Weaver Holdings contributed US$1 million in July. — Reuters
