Apr22
Obama bundlers pick up the Super PAC slack
on April 22nd, 2012 at 8:00 am
By Russ Choma — OpenSecrets
Liberal super PACs haven’t exactly been raking in the cash, not even the pro-Obama Priorities USA Action. But Obama’s own fundraising continues to be muscular with the help of an army of bundlers.
Obama campaign’s latest list of current bundlers — big donors who not only contribute themselves but go out and solicit additional donations for the president’s re-election. There are now 534 of them, 90 more than three months ago. Together they’ve helped raise at least $106.4 million — $32.2 million of it this quarter. That’s roughly one-third — and possibly more, since the campaign reports bundler fundraising only in ranges — of the $350 million the Obama campaign and Democratic National Committee have taken in so far.These latest bundler figures show that the wealthy, well-connected individuals who typically become bundlers are rallying to Obama’s aid to a greater degree than they did in his first bid for the Oval Office.
During the entire 2008 campaign, Obama had 558 bundlers working for him (24 more than this time) but they raised just $76.3 million. This cycle’s bundlers are bringing in more cash: In 2008, 47 bundlers collected more than $500,000 for Obama, while this time there are already 117 who have managed to bring in at least that much for his reelection bid.
So who’s passing the collection plate for Obama?
There are some notable new names:
- Tyler Perry: The writer/director/actor/producer from Atlanta is listed as having bundled at least $500,000.
- Nicole Avant: A prominent Obama fundraiser last time around, Obama named her ambassador to the Bahamas. (She’s also married to Netflix COO Ted Sarandos). She finished up her stint in the Bahamas in January, and was sent to Hollywood to raise money. That seems to have worked, with the campaign reporting she brought in at least $500,000.
- Tim Gill and Scott Miller: Gill made a fortune in computer software, and has since become a prominent LBGT activist. He and Miller, who are married, combined to bring in at least $500,000.
- Robert Pohlad: He’s a member of the Pohlad family that owns the Minnesota Twins baseball team. He, too, bundled at least $500,000.
- Deepak Chopra: The New Age guru bundled between $100,000 and $200,000.
Notably not on the list: Abake Assongba, formerly listed as a bundler. But since she was accused of fraud last month, the Obama campaign has distanced itself, and today campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said that $50,000 donated by Assongba and her husband had been returned.
Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney is not revealing the identities of his bundlers, except those that are lobbyists and must be disclosed by law.
