Romney's super PAC still outraising his rivals'
The Apollo Group , owns several for-profit educational institutions, gave $75,000, more than all but one other company. President Obama has made an effort to require for-profit colleges to show that they prepare students for jobs before handing out government loans.
Payday lenders, which loan money at interest rates critics say border on usury, were among the most common donors. Most gave under their own names, but executives from one, Moneytree, gave instead through an opaquely named limited liability company.
And as candidates jockey to position themselves as Washington outsiders, 13 lobbyists bundled $500,000 for Mr. Romney , up from three the prior month.
As the large donations from wealthy people went to Mr. Romney ’s super PAC, the one working to re-elect Mr. Obama had a different problem: It didn’t have any. In the first month since Mr. Obama enlisted Cabinet secretaries to appear as attractions at fundraising events, Priorities USA fared poorly. Though super PACs have been widely condemned by Democrats as corrupting, Mr. Obama reluctantly endorsed the group.
The super PAC received only seven contributions higher than what could be given through traditional channels, with half its haul in the form of a $1 million check from liberal talk-show host and comedian Bill Maher. While scores of Hollywood celebrities gave the maximum allowed $30,000 contribution to the Democratic National Committee, which often earned them audiences with the president at private gatherings, none was willing to give more to the super PAC. The United Auto Workers union gave $100,000.
Priorities USA is hoping to eventually compete with conservative super PACs American Crossroads, which raised $3.4 million, and FreedomWorks, which raised $450,000 - one-third transferred from an affiliate, effectively hiding the money’s source. The Washington Times reported Wednesday that despite preferring more conservative candidates, FreedomWorks will begin encouraging Republicans to rally around Mr. Romney as the likely GOP nominee.
loan volumes from unfavorable law changes effective January 1, 2010 in Washington and South Carolina that restrict customer access to payday loans.