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Wed 1 Aug, 2012 11:33 am
The SuperPAC Superdonors
July 23, 2012
See the whole "Million-Dollar Donors" series
More than two dozen people or groups have donated at least $1 million each to the new superPACs, which can raise unlimited funds to help a candidate — although without technically coordinating with that campaign. The money is largely being used to run attack ads against opponents. Here are those giving the most money, according to the Federal Election Commission.
See the whole "Million-Dollar Donors" series
Photo Sheldon & Miriam Adelson Las Vegas, Nev.
Sheldon Adelson, 78, and his wife, Miriam, 66, own Las Vegas Sands Corp., which owns and operates major hotels and casinos. Sheldon Adelson told Forbes he might ultimately give "$100 million" to the superPAC supporting Newt Gingrich. "I'm against very wealthy people attempting to [influence] or influencing elections. But as long as it's doable I'm going to do it."
More: For A Personal Cause, Casino Owner Bets On Gingrich
Contributions
Winning Our Future (Gingrich) $5,000,000 Donor: Sheldon Adelson | Date: Jan. 6, 2012
Winning Our Future (Gingrich) $5,000,000 Donor: Miriam Adelson | Date: Jan. 24, 2012
Winning Our Future (Gingrich) $2,500,000 Donor: Miriam Adelson | Date: Feb. 17, 2012
Winning Our Future (Gingrich) $2,500,000 Donor: Sheldon Adelson | Date: Feb. 17, 2012
Winning Our Future (Gingrich) $5,000,000 Donor: Miriam Adelson | Date: March 21, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $5,000,000 Donor: Miriam Adelson | Date: June 14, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $5,000,000 Donor: Sheldon Adelson | Date: June 14, 2012
Kareem Ahmed Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Ahmed is the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based CEO of Landmark Medical Management, a medical billing and collecting firm.
Contributions
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $250,000 Donor: Kareem Ahmed | Date: Feb. 13, 2012
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $250,000 Donor: Kareem Ahmed | Date: Feb. 27, 2012
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $500,000 Donor: Kareem Ahmed | Date: Mar. 28, 2012
John Childs Vero Beach, Fla.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $1,000,000 Donor: John Childs | Date: June 20, 2012
American Crossroads (GOP) $500,000 Donor: John Childs | Date: June 27, 2012
Edward Conard New York, N.Y.
Conard, 54, a top official at Waters Corp. and Sensata Technologies, was managing director of Bain Capital — the private equity firm founded by Mitt Romney — from 1993 to 2007. He has contributed to PACs backing Romney since 2004, according to the Center for Public Integrity.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $1,000,000 Donor: Edward Conard | Date: April 28, 2011
Joe Craft Tulsa, Okla.
The Tulsa, Okla.-based chairman, president and CEO of Alliance Holdings GP LP, Craft once donated $6 million to finish the basketball practice facility at the University of Kentucky, where he got undergraduate and law degrees.
Contributions
American Crossroads (GOP) $425,000 Donor: Alliance Management Holdings | Date: Nov. 28, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Joseph Craft | Date: Jan. 17, 2012
American Crossroads (GOP) $1,250,000 Donor: Joe Craft | Date: May 31, 2012
American Crossroads (GOP) $425,000 Donor: Alliance Management Holdings | Date: May 31, 2012
Crow Holdings LLC Dallas, Texas
The Dallas company owns and manages the estate of the late Trammel Crow. The real estate investment company is headed by Harlan Crow, the chairman and CEO.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $150,000 Donor: Crow Holdings LLC | Date: Oct. 7, 2011
American Crossroads (GOP) $500,000 Donor: Crow Holdings LLC | Date: Nov. 18, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $150,000 Donor: Harlan Crow | Date: Nov. 22, 2011
American Crossroads (GOP) $1,000,000 Donor: Crow Holdings LLC | Date: May 30, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Crow Holdings LLC | Date: June 15, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Trammell Crow | Date: June 25, 2012
James Davis Newton, Mass.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: James Davis | Date: June 15, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: James Davis | Date: March 8, 2012
William J. Dore Lake Charles, La.
Dore, 69, a Louisiana native and president of the Dore Energy Corp. of Lake Charles, La., appears to be making by far his largest-ever political contributions this year, Bloomberg reported. Dore has not publicly discussed his donations. More: Betting Big On Santorum, Donor's Motives A Mystery
Contributions
Red White and Blue Fund (Santorum) $1,000,000 Donor: William J. Dore | Date: Jan. 11, 2012
Red White and Blue Fund (Santorum) $500,000 Donor: William J. Dore | Date: Feb. 14, 2012
Red White and Blue Fund (Santorum) $250,000 Donor: William J. Dore | Date: March 12, 2012
Red White and Blue Fund (Santorum) $500,000 Donor: William J. Dore | Date: March 26, 2012
Paul & Sandra Edgerley Brookline, Mass.
Paul B. Edgerley, 55, is managing director of Boston-based Bain Capital, the private equity firm co-founded by Mitt Romney, where he has worked since 1988. Sandra Edgerley formerly worked at Bain & Co. The couple have been contributing to Romney and PACs backing him since 2004, according to the Center for Public Integrity.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Paul Edgerley | Date: May 19, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Sandra Edgerley | Date: May 19, 2011
Eli Publishing Inc. Provo, Utah
An inactive Utah company formed in 1997 by Nu Skin founder Steven Lund, 58.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $1,000,000 Donor: Eli Publishing Inc. | Date: March 31, 2011
Fred Eychaner Chicago, Ill.
Contributions
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $500,000 Donor: Fred Eychaner | Date: June 30, 2011
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $1,000,000 Donor: Fred Eychaner | Date: June 29, 2012
F8 LLC Provo, Utah
F8 LLC has the same address as Eli Publishing Inc.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $1,000,000 Donor: F8 LLC | Date: March 31, 2011
Morgan Freeman Los Angeles, Calif.
Contributions
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $1,000,000 Donor: Morgan Freeman | Date: June 21, 2012
Photo Foster S. Friess Jackson, Wyo.
The self-described "man atop the horse," Friess, 71, a mutual fund investor, has promoted and financed conservative politics and philanthropy for decades.
More: A Wyoming Millionaire Places His Faith In Santorum
Contributions
Red White and Blue Fund (Santorum) $250,000 Donor: Foster S. Friess | Date: Nov. 3, 2011
Red White and Blue Fund (Santorum) $81,000 Donor: Foster S. Friess | Date: Dec. 22, 2011
Red White and Blue Fund (Santorum) $253,400 Donor: Foster S. Friess | Date: Jan. 18, 2012
Red White and Blue Fund (Santorum) $415,600 Donor: Foster S. Friess | Date: Jan. 30, 2012
Red White and Blue Fund (Santorum) $600,000 Donor: Foster S. Friess | Date: Feb. 21, 2012
Red White and Blue Fund (Santorum) $500,000 Donor: Foster S. Friess | Date: March 8, 2012
Philip Geier New York, N.Y.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: Philip Geier | Date: July 28, 2011
American Crossroads (GOP) $200,000 Donor: Philip Geier | Date: Nov. 22, 2011
American Crossroads (GOP) $300,000 Donor: Philip Geier | Date: Nov. 23, 2011
American Crossroads (GOP) $300,000 Donor: Philip Geier | Date: Feb. 6, 2012
Amy Goldman Rhinebeck, N.Y.
The Rhinebeck, N.Y.-based writer and philanthropist, a noted heirloom plant conservationist, is the daughter of the late real estate investor Sol Goldman, once the largest private landlord in New York City.
Contributions
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $1,000,000 Donor: Amy Goldman | Date: Mar. 20, 2012
Photo Kenneth Griffin Chicago, Ill.
Griffin, 43, Founder and CEO of hedge-fund Citadel LLC, was a top donor in 2010 to Republicans running for the Illinois legislature -- and to Chicago Democratic mayoral candidate (and now mayor) Rahm Emanuel, former White House chief of staff to President Obama, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Contributions
American Crossroads (GOP) $300,000 Donor: Kenneth Griffin | Date: Aug. 1, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $100,000 Donor: Kenneth Griffin | Date: Dec. 15, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $100,000 Donor: Kenneth Griffin | Date: Feb. 9, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $850,000 Donor: Kenneth Griffin | Date: Mar. 26, 2012
American Crossroads (GOP) $700,000 Donor: Kenneth Griffin | Date: Mar. 28, 2012
Franklin Haney Washington, D.C.
The Tennessee-born founder of a real estate company that develops hotels and apartment buildings in Washington, D.C., ran and lost in bids for Congress in 1966 and for Tennessee governor in 1974. He has been a longtime Democratic fundraiser.
Contributions
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $1,000,000 Donor: Franklin Haney | Date: May 29, 2012
Photo Jon M. Huntsman Sr. Salt Lake City, Utah
The founder and executive chairman of Huntsman Corp., Huntsman, 74, is the father of former Republican presidential candidate Jon M. Huntsman Jr. The billionaire philanthropist has donated heavily to cancer research.
Contributions
Our Destiny PAC (Huntsman) $100,000 Donor: Jon M. Huntsman | Date: Oct. 14, 2011
Our Destiny PAC (Huntsman) $400,000 Donor: Jon M. Huntsman | Date: Oct. 21, 2011
Our Destiny PAC (Huntsman) $140,000 Donor: Jon M. Huntsman | Date: Nov. 20, 2011
Our Destiny PAC (Huntsman) $400,000 Donor: Jon M. Huntsman | Date: Nov. 22, 2011
Our Destiny PAC (Huntsman) $170,050 Donor: Jon M. Huntsman | Date: Dec. 1, 2011
Our Destiny PAC (Huntsman) $400,000 Donor: Jon M. Huntsman | Date: Dec. 13, 2011
Our Destiny PAC (Huntsman) $276,990 Donor: Jon M. Huntsman | Date: Dec. 29, 2011
Our Destiny PAC (Huntsman) $120,000 Donor: Jon M. Huntsman | Date: Jan. 5, 2012
Our Destiny PAC (Huntsman) $135,000 Donor: Jon M. Huntsman | Date: Jan. 6, 2012
Our Destiny PAC (Huntsman) $80,000 Donor: Jon M. Huntsman | Date: Jan. 30, 2012
Irwin Jacobs La Jolla, Calif.
Contributions
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $2,000,000 Donor: Irwin Jacobs | Date: June 11, 2012
Photo Jeffrey Katzenberg Universal City, Calif.
Chief executive at DreamWorks Animation, Katzenberg, 61, a longtime funder of Democrats, told USA Today he wants to counter heavy spending that has favored Republican candidates. "The stakes are too high for us to simply allow the extremism of a small but well-funded right-wing minority to go unchallenged,"he said.
Contributions
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $2,000,000 Donor: Jeffrey Katzenberg | Date: May 27, 2011
John Kleinheinz Fort Worth, Texas
The owner of Kleinheinz Capital Partners, a global hedge fund founded in 1996, based in Fort Worth, Texas.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $1,000,000 Donor: John Kleinheinz | Date: April 9, 2012
Photo William Koch West Palm Beach, Fla.
The Palm Beach, Fla., billionaire, 72, is the twin brother of David Koch and younger brother of Charles Koch, who share a higher profile in their conservative political activity. An avid yachtsman whose team won the 1992 America's Cup, Koch has not — until this campaign season — been heavily invested in politics like his also-wealthy brothers, David and Charles Koch. William Koch's fortune is about $4 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
More: For A Billionaire, $2M Gets You Superdonor Status
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: William Koch | Date: Sept. 12, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: Oxbow Carbon LLC | Date: Sept. 13, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Oxbow Carbon LLC | Date: Dec. 21, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $1,000,000 Donor: Huron Carbon LLC | Date: Mar. 5, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $1,000,000 Donor: Oxbow Carbon LLC | Date: June 5, 2012
Photo Bill Maher Los Angeles, Calif.
Maher, 56, is a comedian, political commentator and host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher."
More: Bill Maher's Obama SuperPAC Donation Causing Stir
Contributions
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $1,000,000 Donor: William Maher | Date: Feb. 28, 2012
J.W. Marriott Bethesda, Md.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: J.W. Marriott | Date: June 15, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: J.W. Marriott | Date: Jan. 17, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: J.W. Marriott | Date: Mar. 7, 2012
Richard Marriott Potomac, Md.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: J.W. Marriott | Date: June 20, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: J.W. Marriott | Date: Jan. 31, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: J.W. Marriott | Date: Mar. 23, 2012
Robert Mercer East Setauket, N.Y.
New York hedge fund manager at Renaissance Technologies
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $1,000,000 Donor: Robert Mercer | Date: July 28, 2011
Photo Melaleuca Inc. Idaho Falls, Idaho
Frank L. VanderSloot (left), CEO of the privately held dietary supplement and cleaning supply company, also is national finance co-chairman of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: Melaleuca of Asia Ltd. Co. | Date: Aug. 5, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: Melaleuca of Japan Inc. | Date: Aug. 5, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: Melaleuca of Southeast Asia Inc. | Date: Aug. 5, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: Melaleuca Inc. | Date: Aug. 15, 2011
Photo Irving Moskowitz Hawaiian Gardens, Calif.
Moskowitz, 84, is a retired Florida physician, a bingo magnate who runs a California charity, and a longtime supporter of expanding Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem.
Contributions
American Crossroads (GOP) $1,000,000 Donor: Irving Moskowitz | Date: Feb. 14, 2011
Steve Mostyn Houston, Texas
Former president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Houston personal injury lawyer has been the state's largest Democratic donor this election cycle. He was the financial backer for the Back to Basics PAC, which unsuccessfully worked for the defeat Texas Gov. Rick Perry in 2010.
Contributions
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $1,000,000 Donor: Steve Mostyn | Date: May 11, 2012
National Air Traffic Controllers Association PAC Washington, D.C.
Contributions
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $1,000,000 Donor: National Air Traffic Controllers Association PAC | Date: April 30, 2012
Rocco Ortenzio Lemoyne, Pa.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: Rocco Ortenzio | Date: April 3, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Rocco Ortenzio | Date: May 16, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: Rocco Ortenzio | Date: June 1, 2012
Photo John Paulson New York, N.Y.
Paulson, 56, president of Paulson & Co., "became a billionaire in 2007 by betting against the U.S. subprime mortgage market," Bloomberg News noted in February. Forbes said his net worth as of September was $15.5 billion, and that last year's "take-home pay" was $4.9 billion, "a record for the hedge fund industry."
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $1,000,000 Donor: John Paulson | Date: Jan. 28, 2011
Photo A. Jerrold Perenchio Los Angeles, Calif.
Perenchio, 81, is former chairman and CEO of Spanish-language TV channel Univision. In September, Forbes put his net worth at $2.3 billion.
Contributions
American Crossroads (GOP) $2,000,000 Donor: Jerry Perenchio Living Trust | Date: April 22, 2011
Our Destiny PAC (Huntsman) $100,000 Donor: A. Jerrold Perenchio | Date: Jan. 6, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Jerry Perenchio | Date: Feb. 23, 2012
Photo Bob J. Perry Houston, Texas
Perry, 79, homebuilder and owner of Perry Homes in Houston, has long been active in Republican politics. The Center for Public Integrity said: "Perry, whose deep pockets helped underwrite the assault on Democrat John Kerry's military record during the 2004 presidential election, may have done more than anyone else to ensure George W. Bush's narrow victory that year."
More: Lots Of GOP Money Flowing From The Texas Two
Contributions
American Crossroads (GOP) $500,000 Donor: Bob J. Perry | Date: Feb. 28, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Bob Perry | Date: March 8, 2011
American Crossroads (GOP) $2,000,000 Donor: Bob J. Perry | Date: Aug. 24, 2011
Make Us Great Again (Perry) $100,000 Donor: Bob J. Perry | Date: Aug. 30, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Bob Perry | Date: Dec. 7, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $3,000,000 Donor: Bob Perry | Date: Feb. 15, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $750,000 Donor: Bob Perry | Date: April 5, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $2,000,000 Donor: Bob Perry | Date: June 1, 2012
American Crossroads (GOP) $2,000,000 Donor: Bob Perry | Date: June 28, 2012
Photo Julian Robertson Locust Valley, N.Y.
One of the first hedge fund managers, Robertson, 79, was founder of Tiger Management Corp. The Raleigh News & Observer notes that Robertson also has supported environmental causes and gave more than $40 million to the Environmental Defense Fund between 2005 and 2009 "to support the group's efforts to pass cap-and-trade legislation."
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $1,000,000 Donor: Julian Robertson | Date: Nov. 22, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $250,000 Donor: Julian Robertson | Date: Jan. 18, 2012
Rooney Holdings Inc. Tulsa, Okla.
The family-owned company is a major domestic and foreign builder, responsible for — among other things — the Dallas Cowboys' huge new stadium. Francis Rooney, 58, the company's president and CEO, was U.S. ambassador to the Vatican during the administration of George W. Bush.
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Rooney Holdings Inc. | Date: July 19, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Rooney Holdings Inc. | Date: Dec. 7, 2011
Robert B. Rowling Irving, Texas
An oil industry giant who also owns the Omni hotel chain, Rowling, 57, of Dallas — owner, CEO and president of TRT Holdings Inc. — is worth $4.7 billion, according to Forbes.
Contributions
American Crossroads (GOP) $1,000,000 Donor: Robert B. Rowling | Date: May 20, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $100,000 Donor: Robert B. Rowling | Date: Jan. 13, 2012
American Crossroads (GOP) $1,000,000 Donor: TRT Holdings Ind. | Date: Feb. 3, 2012
SEIU COPE Washington, D.C.
Service Employees International Union Committee on Political Education, is, according to the union, made up of 300,000 people who contribute on average $7 per month.
Contributions
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $500,000 Donor: SEIU COPE | Date: May 2, 2011
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $500,000 Donor: SEIU COPE | Date: Dec. 28, 2011
Photo Harold C. Simmons Dallas, Texas
Simmons, 80, is a Texas businessman long active in funding campaigns. In 2008, he helped finance ads against Barack Obama; in 2004, he gave $2 million to the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth, which attacked Democrat John Kerry. In January, Forbes listed his net worth at $8.7 billion.
More: Lots Of GOP Money Flowing From The Texas Two
Contributions
Make Us Great Again (Perry) $500,000 Donor: Contran Corporation | Date: Sept. 23, 2011
American Crossroads (GOP) $1,000,000 Donor: Contran Corporation | Date: Oct. 21, 2011
Make Us Great Again (Perry) $500,000 Donor: Contran Corporation | Date: Oct. 24, 2011
American Crossroads (GOP) $1,000,000 Donor: Contran Corporation | Date: Oct. 26, 2011
American Crossroads (GOP) $5,000,000 Donor: Harold C. Simmons | Date: Nov. 29, 2011
Winning Our Future (Gingrich) $500,000 Donor: Harold Simmons | Date: Dec. 15, 2011
American Crossroads (GOP) $5,000,000 Donor: Harold C. Simmons | Date: Jan. 13, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $100,000 Donor: Harold C. Simmons | Date: Jan. 13, 2012
Winning Our Future (Gingrich) $500,000 Donor: Harold Simmons | Date: Jan. 24, 2012
Red White and Blue Fund (Santorum) $1,000,000 Donor: Annette Simmons | Date: Feb. 15, 2012
Winning Our Future (Gingrich) $100,000 Donor: Harold Simmons | Date: Feb. 15, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $100,000 Donor: Harold Simmons | Date: Feb. 28, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $100,000 Donor: Harold Simmons | Date: March 9, 2012
Red White and Blue Fund (Santorum) $200,000 Donor: Annette Simmons | Date: March 19, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Harold Simmons | Date: March 19, 2012
American Crossroads (GOP) $1,000,000 Donor: Harold Simmons | Date: April 25, 2012
Photo Paul Singer New York, N.Y.
Singer, 67, CEO of hedge fund Elliott Management, supported passage of New York state's same-sex-marriage legislation and lobbied hard to get New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to enter the Republican race.
More: SuperDonor Backs Romney — And Gay Marriage
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $1,000,000 Donor: Paul Singer | Date: Oct. 17, 2011
Barbara Stiefel Coral Gables, Fla.
The Coral Gables, Fla., retiree is a longtime Democratic fundraiser and philanthropist.
Contributions
Priorities USA Action (Obama) $1,000,000 Donor: Barbara Stiefel | Date: May 24, 2012
Photo Peter Thiel San Francisco, Calif.
Co-founder of PayPal, Thiel, 44, also an early investor in Facebook, has a net worth of $1.5 billion, according to Forbes.
More: With Eye On Future, Billionaire Investor Bets On Paul
Contributions
Endorse Liberty (Paul) $150,000 Donor: Peter Thiel | Date: Dec. 16, 2011
Endorse Liberty (Paul) $750,000 Donor: Peter Thiel | Date: Dec. 21, 2011
Endorse Liberty (Paul) $1,000,000 Donor: Peter Thiel | Date: Jan. 3, 2012
Endorse Liberty (Paul) $700,000 Donor: Peter Thiel | Date: Jan. 13, 2012
Steven Webster Houston, Texas
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Steven Webster | Date: Nov. 29, 2011
Restore Our Future (Romney) $500,000 Donor: Steven Webster | Date: March 1, 2012
Whiteco Industries Inc. Merrillville, Ind.
A construction and advertising company headed by Dean White.
Contributions
American Crossroads (GOP) $1,000,000 Donor: Whiteco Industries Inc. | Date: Nov. 15, 2011
Unknown Dayton, Ohio
These contributions came from the same address in Dayton, Ohio, but under different company names. (Source: Sunlight Foundation)
Contributions
Restore Our Future (Romney) $333,334 Donor: Waterbury Properties LLC | Date: May 22, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $333,333 Donor: CRC Information Systems Inc. | Date: May 22, 2012
Restore Our Future (Romney) $333,333 Donor: Fairbanks Properties LLC | Date: May 22, 2012
American Crossroads (GOP) $333,333 Donor: CRC Information Systems Inc. | Date: June 5, 2012
American Crossroads (GOP) $333,333 Donor: Fairbanks Properties LLC | Date: June 5, 2012
American Crossroads (GOP) $333,334 Donor: Waterbury Properties LLC | Date: June 6, 2012
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New SuperPAC Financial Reports Reveal More Big Spenders
June 21, 2012
by Natalie Friedman
The political fundraising numbers filed this week are revealing a new crop of million-dollar donors.
Cash flowed into the superPACs supporting President Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney last month. Priorities USA Action, the pro-Obama superPAC, got $4 million, while the pro-Romney equivalent, Restore Our Future, pulled in $5 million.
So who are the big spenders?
Priorities USA can thank three donors, who each kicked in $1 million, for its rise in funds:
Franklin L. Haney, founder of a real estate company that develops hotels and apartment buildings in Washington, D.C., may be Tennessee-born, but his ties to Washington are deep. It took two unsuccessful political bids — one for Congress in 1966, and then for Tennessee governor in 1974 — for Haney to realize he was better suited to fundraising than campaigning. He put aside his political ambitions and, through the success of his real estate business, has been a longtime Democratic fundraiser.
Barbara A. Stiefel, a philanthropist from Coral Gables, Fla., has been an active fundraiser for Florida Democrats.
And in Texas, trial lawyer Steve Mostyn is the state's largest Democratic donor this election cycle. This isn't the first time Mostyn has supported a political action committee. He was the financial backer for a much smaller PAC, Back to Basics, that was dedicated to defeating Gov. Rick Perry of Texas in 2010.
Restore Our Future also saw some new names popping up on its donor list.
Warren Stephens, an investment banker from Arkansas, gave a first-time donation of $500,000 to the superPAC.
Richard Mellon Scaife, owner of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Newsmax, gave $67,500. Scaife is an heir to his great-uncle Andrew Mellon's fortune. He's directed much of his wealth to supporting conservative causes, and in the 1990s was one of former President Bill Clinton's harshest critics.
Unlike Scaife and Stephens, Rocco Ortenzio, a Pennsylvania health care executive, is one of Restore Our Future's repeat donors. The May filings bring his current total to $750,000 with a new donation of $500,000 just last month.
There were three separate donations of $333,333, $333,333 and $333,334 made by three different corporations in Dayton, Ohio, with matching return addresses. The Sunlight Foundation traced the million-dollar donation to the Reynolds and Reynolds Co. run by CEO Robert T. Brockman. Brockman has already given the maximum donation of $5,000 directly to Romney's campaign.
American Crossroads, another Republican superPAC, attracted two million-dollar donors last month, for a total haul of $4.6 million for May. The money will be used to help Romney and other GOP causes.
Joe Craft, a coal executive from Tulsa, Okla., and Crow Holdings LLC, owned by Texas investor Harlan Crow, were American Crossroads' big benefactors. Crow has already given $300,000 to Restore Our Future.