The last time we checked on the (funding) status of America's real presidential race - the one where America's uber-wealthy try to outspend each other in hopes of purchasing the best president money can buy - the totals were substantially lower. With November 6 rapidly approaching, however, the scramble to lock in those record political lobbying IRRs is in its final lap. And thanks to the unlimited nature of PAC spending, look for the spending to really go into overdrive in the next 2 weeks as the spending frenzy on the world's greatest tragicomedy hits previously unseen heights.

RESTORE OUR FUTURE



Total raised as of Sept. 30: $110.5 million - supports Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney

Bob Perry - Houston builder who was a major donor to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group that helped undermine 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry by attacking his Vietnam War record. Total donations: $10 million

- Houston builder who was a major donor to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group that helped undermine 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry by attacking his Vietnam War record. Total donations: $10 million Sheldon Adelson - billionaire Las Vegas casino magnate who built the Venetian hotel and casino. Donation: $5 million

- billionaire Las Vegas casino magnate who built the Venetian hotel and casino. Donation: $5 million Miriam Adelson - Sheldon's wife. Donation: $5 million

- Sheldon's wife. Donation: $5 million Bill Koch - brother of conservative financiers David and Charles Koch. He runs Oxbow Carbon, a Florida-based firm that is also a donor and shares its address with another contributor, Huron Carbon. Total donations, including through firms: $4 million

- brother of conservative financiers David and Charles Koch. He runs Oxbow Carbon, a Florida-based firm that is also a donor and shares its address with another contributor, Huron Carbon. Total donations, including through firms: $4 million Steven Lund - runs Nu Skin, a Utah skin care and cosmetics company whose former executives have been linked to two other firms that share an address in Provo, Utah, and donated to the Super PAC: F8 LLC and Eli Publishing. Lund's wife Kalleen is also a donor. Total donations from the Lunds and firms: $3 million

- runs Nu Skin, a Utah skin care and cosmetics company whose former executives have been linked to two other firms that share an address in Provo, Utah, and donated to the Super PAC: F8 LLC and Eli Publishing. Lund's wife Kalleen is also a donor. Total donations from the Lunds and firms: $3 million Julian Robertson - hedge fund industry legend at Tiger Management. Total donations: $1.3 million

- hedge fund industry legend at Tiger Management. Total donations: $1.3 million Crow Holdings - Dallas-based investment firm managing the wealth of the family of the late Dallas real estate mogul Trammell Crow, whose sons Harlan and Trammell S. Crow are also donors. Total Crow Holdings and Crow donations: $1.3 million

- Dallas-based investment firm managing the wealth of the family of the late Dallas real estate mogul Trammell Crow, whose sons Harlan and Trammell S. Crow are also donors. Total Crow Holdings and Crow donations: $1.3 million Harold Simmons - billionaire Dallas banker and CEO of Contran Corp who has contributed to PACs supporting Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich. Donations: $1.3 million

- billionaire Dallas banker and CEO of Contran Corp who has contributed to PACs supporting Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich. Donations: $1.3 million Frank VanderSloot - Idaho businessman who runs the nutritional and cosmetics company Melaleuca. The firm and its subsidiaries have also donated. Total donations: $1.1 million

- Idaho businessman who runs the nutritional and cosmetics company Melaleuca. The firm and its subsidiaries have also donated. Total donations: $1.1 million The Villages of Lake Sumter - a community in Florida run by billionaire Gary Morse, who is also a donor alongside his wife Renee and their several children. Along with the Morse family, thirteen companies controlled wholly or partially by Morse that share an address in The Villages have also contributed. Total donations of all: $1.7 million.

- a community in Florida run by billionaire Gary Morse, who is also a donor alongside his wife Renee and their several children. Along with the Morse family, thirteen companies controlled wholly or partially by Morse that share an address in The Villages have also contributed. Total donations of all: $1.7 million. Kenneth Griffin - Chicago-based hedge fund manager and CEO of Citadel LLC. Total donations: $1.1 million

- Chicago-based hedge fund manager and CEO of Citadel LLC. Total donations: $1.1 million Bob Parsons - billionaire founder of web hosting giant Go Daddy. Donation: $1 million

- billionaire founder of web hosting giant Go Daddy. Donation: $1 million Jim Davis - chairman of New Balance Athletic Shoes Inc. Donations: $1 million

- chairman of New Balance Athletic Shoes Inc. Donations: $1 million Stanley Herzog - CEO of Missouri-based Herzon Contracting Corp. Donation: $1 million

- CEO of Missouri-based Herzon Contracting Corp. Donation: $1 million Bruce Kovner - billonaire hedge fund manager at Caxton Alternative Management. Donation: $1 million

- billonaire hedge fund manager at Caxton Alternative Management. Donation: $1 million Rocco Ortenzio - Pennsylvania healthcare executive and founder of Select Medical Corp. Total donations: $1 million

- Pennsylvania healthcare executive and founder of Select Medical Corp. Total donations: $1 million John Childs - founder of private equity firm J.W. Childs Associates LP in Florida. Donation: $1 million

- founder of private equity firm J.W. Childs Associates LP in Florida. Donation: $1 million Edward Conard - a New York investor and former executive at Bain Capital, a private equity firm co-founded by Romney. Donation: $1 million

- a New York investor and former executive at Bain Capital, a private equity firm co-founded by Romney. Donation: $1 million John Kleinheinz - Texas hedge fund manager for Kleinheinz Capital Partners Inc. Donation: $1 million

- Texas hedge fund manager for Kleinheinz Capital Partners Inc. Donation: $1 million J.W. Marriott Jr. - chairman and CEO of Marriott International, brother of Richard. Total donations: $1 million

- chairman and CEO of Marriott International, brother of Richard. Total donations: $1 million Richard Marriott - chairman of Host Marriott International. Total donations: $1 million

- chairman of Host Marriott International. Total donations: $1 million Robert McNair - owner of the Houston Texans football team. Donation: $1 million.

- owner of the Houston Texans football team. Donation: $1 million. Robert Mercer - New York hedge fund manager at Renaissance Technologies. Donation: $1 million

- New York hedge fund manager at Renaissance Technologies. Donation: $1 million John Paulson - a prominent New York hedge fund manager at Paulson and Co. Donation: $1 million

- a prominent New York hedge fund manager at Paulson and Co. Donation: $1 million Rooney Holdings Inc - private investment firm formed in 1980s to acquire the Manhattan Construction Co. and has since expanded into many areas. Total donations: $1 million

- private investment firm formed in 1980s to acquire the Manhattan Construction Co. and has since expanded into many areas. Total donations: $1 million Paul Singer - hedge fund manager who helped fund efforts to legalize gay marriage in New York. Donation: $1 million

- hedge fund manager who helped fund efforts to legalize gay marriage in New York. Donation: $1 million Paul and Sandra Edgerly - Paul Edgerly of Brookline, Massachusetts, is an executive at Bain. The Edgerlys each have given $500,000. Total donations: $1 million

- Paul Edgerly of Brookline, Massachusetts, is an executive at Bain. The Edgerlys each have given $500,000. Total donations: $1 million Steven Webster - private equity executive at Avista Capital in Houston. Total donations: $1 million

- private equity executive at Avista Capital in Houston. Total donations: $1 million Robert Brockman - executive at Reynolds and Reynolds, a Dayton, Ohio-based car dealership support company that shares a P.O. Box with CRC Information Systems Inc, Fairbanks Properties LLC and Waterbury Properties LLC, which split the donation three ways. Total donations: $1 million

- executive at Reynolds and Reynolds, a Dayton, Ohio-based car dealership support company that shares a P.O. Box with CRC Information Systems Inc, Fairbanks Properties LLC and Waterbury Properties LLC, which split the donation three ways. Total donations: $1 million Miguel Fernandez - chairman of MBF Healthcare Partners, a private equity firm. MBF Family Investments also donated to the Super PAC. Total donations: $1 million

- chairman of MBF Healthcare Partners, a private equity firm. MBF Family Investments also donated to the Super PAC. Total donations: $1 million Renco Group Inc. - owned by New York billionaire Ira Rennert, another frequent contributor to Republicans this year. Donation: $1 million

- owned by New York billionaire Ira Rennert, another frequent contributor to Republicans this year. Donation: $1 million OdysseyRe Holdings Corp - reinsurance underwriting company in Stamford, Connecticut that is a U.S. subsidiary of Toronto-based Fairfax Financial. Donation: $1 million

PRIORITIES USA ACTION



Total raised as of Sept. 30: $50.1 million - supports Democratic President Barack Obama

James Simons - billionaire hedge fund manager, founder of Renaissance Technologies Corp. Donation: $3.5 million

- billionaire hedge fund manager, founder of Renaissance Technologies Corp. Donation: $3.5 million Fred Eychaner - founder of Newsweb Corp. Donation: $3.5 million

- founder of Newsweb Corp. Donation: $3.5 million Jeff Katzenberg - chief executive of DreamWorks Animation. Donation: $3 million

- chief executive of DreamWorks Animation. Donation: $3 million Steve Mostyn - Houston attorney. Donation: $2 million

- Houston attorney. Donation: $2 million Irwin Mark Jacobs - former CEO of Qualcomm Inc. Donation: $2 million

- former CEO of Qualcomm Inc. Donation: $2 million Jon Stryker - billionaire activist and heir to the medical supply company fortune of his grandfather. Donation: $2 million

- billionaire activist and heir to the medical supply company fortune of his grandfather. Donation: $2 million Anne Cox Chambers - billionaire daughter of James M. Cox, founder of Cox Enterprises. Total donations: $1.5 million

- billionaire daughter of James M. Cox, founder of Cox Enterprises. Total donations: $1.5 million National Air Traffic Controllers Association - union representing more than 16,000 workers. Donation: $1.3 million

- union representing more than 16,000 workers. Donation: $1.3 million S. Daniel Abraham - billionaire creator of Slim-Fast brand, chairman of S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace. Donation: $1.2 million

- billionaire creator of Slim-Fast brand, chairman of S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace. Donation: $1.2 million Barbara Stiefel - retiree in Coral Gables, Florida. Donation: $1.1 million

- retiree in Coral Gables, Florida. Donation: $1.1 million United Auto Workers - Donations through various funds: $1.1 million

- Donations through various funds: $1.1 million Kareem Ahmed - chief executive at Landmark Medical Management in California. Donation: $1 million

- chief executive at Landmark Medical Management in California. Donation: $1 million David Boies, Jr - New York lawyer. Donation: $1 million

- New York lawyer. Donation: $1 million Morgan Freeman - Hollywood actor. Donation: $1 million

- Hollywood actor. Donation: $1 million Amy Goldman - writer and heiress to the New York real estate fortune of Sol Goldman. Donation: $1 million

- writer and heiress to the New York real estate fortune of Sol Goldman. Donation: $1 million Franklin Haney - owner and CEO of FLH Company, a Washington-based real estate company. Donation: $1 million

- owner and CEO of FLH Company, a Washington-based real estate company. Donation: $1 million Bill Maher - stand-up comedian. Donation: $1 million

- stand-up comedian. Donation: $1 million Mel Heifetz - real estate developer and gay activist. Donation: $1 million

- real estate developer and gay activist. Donation: $1 million Michael Snow - Minnesota lawyer. Donation: $1 million.

- Minnesota lawyer. Donation: $1 million. Steven Spielberg - film director. Donation: $1 million.

- film director. Donation: $1 million. Ann Wyckoff - Seattle philanthropist. $1 million.

- Seattle philanthropist. $1 million. Service Employees International Union Committee on Political Education - union representing more than 2 million workers. Donation: $1 million.

- union representing more than 2 million workers. Donation: $1 million. United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry - union representing some 340,000 workers. Total donations: $1 million

AMERICAN CROSSROADS



Total raised as of Sept. 30: $68 million - supports Republican candidates for federal offices

Harold Simmons - Total donations together with Contran Corp: $15.5 million

- Total donations together with Contran Corp: $15.5 million Bob Perry - Total donations: $6.5 million

- Total donations: $6.5 million Robert Rowling - an Irving, Texas, businessman and a conservative and active Republican donor. His company, TRT Holdings Inc, which runs Omni Hotel and Gold's Gym chains, is also a donor. Total donations: $4 million

- an Irving, Texas, businessman and a conservative and active Republican donor. His company, TRT Holdings Inc, which runs Omni Hotel and Gold's Gym chains, is also a donor. Total donations: $4 million Joe Craft - billionaire coal executive from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and CEO of Alliance Holdings, which is also a donor. Total donations: $2.1 million

- billionaire coal executive from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and CEO of Alliance Holdings, which is also a donor. Total donations: $2.1 million Jerry Perenchio Living Trust - a trust of billionaire television tycoon A. Jerrold Perenchio, who is a former chairman of Spanish-language broadcaster Univision. Donation: $2 million

- a trust of billionaire television tycoon A. Jerrold Perenchio, who is a former chairman of Spanish-language broadcaster Univision. Donation: $2 million Crow Holdings - Dallas-based real estate investment firm. Total donations: $1.5 million

- Dallas-based real estate investment firm. Total donations: $1.5 million Weaver Holdings and Weaver Popcorn - Indiana-based company specializing in popcorn. Total contributions: $1.9 million

- Indiana-based company specializing in popcorn. Total contributions: $1.9 million Stephens Inc - a Little Rock, Arkansas, broker dealer. Total donations: $1.3 million

- a Little Rock, Arkansas, broker dealer. Total donations: $1.3 million Armstrong Group - telecommunications conglomerate in Pennsylvania. Donation: $1.3 million

- telecommunications conglomerate in Pennsylvania. Donation: $1.3 million JWC III Revocable Trust - Donatoin: $1.3 million

- Donatoin: $1.3 million Robert Brockman - executive at Ohio-based Reynolds and Reynolds. Similarly to Restore Our Future, three firms sharing a P.O. Box - CRC Information Systems Inc, Fairbanks Properties LLC and Waterbury Properties LLC - split the donation three ways. Total donations: $1 million

- executive at Ohio-based Reynolds and Reynolds. Similarly to Restore Our Future, three firms sharing a P.O. Box - CRC Information Systems Inc, Fairbanks Properties LLC and Waterbury Properties LLC - split the donation three ways. Total donations: $1 million Whiteco Industries - Indiana-based company involved in advertising, construction, entertainment and hotels. Donation: $1 million

- Indiana-based company involved in advertising, construction, entertainment and hotels. Donation: $1 million The Mercury Trust - entity linked to California private equity firm of Saul Fox. Donation: $1 million

- entity linked to California private equity firm of Saul Fox. Donation: $1 million Clayton Williams Energy Inc - Midland, Texas-based drilling company. Donation: $1 million

- Midland, Texas-based drilling company. Donation: $1 million Jay Bergman - of PETCO Petroleum Corporation. Donation: $1 million

- of PETCO Petroleum Corporation. Donation: $1 million Kenneth Griffin - Citadel Investment Group chief executive. Total donations: $1 million

- Citadel Investment Group chief executive. Total donations: $1 million Wayne Hughes - Founder of Public Storage. Total donations: $1 million

- Founder of Public Storage. Total donations: $1 million John Childs - Chairman and CEO of Boston-based JW Childs Associates. Total donations: $1 million

- Chairman and CEO of Boston-based JW Childs Associates. Total donations: $1 million Philip Geier - New York executive. Total donations: $1 million

- New York executive. Total donations: $1 million Irving Moskowitz - a Florida bingo magnate who runs a charity in California and is known for his support of Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem. Donation: $1 million

- a Florida bingo magnate who runs a charity in California and is known for his support of Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem. Donation: $1 million Robert Mercer - co-CEO of hedge fund Renaissance Technologies. Donation: $1 million

BARACK OBAMA (Democrat)

Total raised, including transfers: $609.4 million

Raised in September, including transfers: $136.2 million

Total transferred from the funds jointly used by the campaign and the Democratic Party: $176.6 million

Transferred in September: $39.8 million

Total spent: $469.9 million

Spent in September: $111.4 million

Cash on hand: $99.3 million

Debt: $2.6 million



DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Total raised: $253.6 million

Raised in September: $20.3 million

Total transferred in: $108.4 million

Transferred in September: $4.0 million

Total spent: $261.6 million

Spent in September: $22.8 million

Cash on hand: $4.6 million

Debt: $20.5 million



OBAMA VICTORY FUND 2012 (The main joint Obama/DNC fund)

Total raised: $371.1 million

Raised in September: $80.0 million

Cash on hand: $45.2 million

MITT ROMNEY (Republican)

Total raised, including transfers: $337.2 million

Raised in September, including transfers: $76.2 million

Total transferred from the funds jointly used by the party and the Romney campaign: $236.4 million

Transferred in September: $34.2 million

Total spent: $298.2 million

Spent in September: $54.7 million

Cash on hand: $63.1 million

Debt: $5.0 million



REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Total raised: $331.2 million

Raised in September: $48.4 million

Total transferred in: $127.5 million

Transferred in September: $28.6 million

Total spent: $249.4 million

Spent in September: $42.4 million

Cash on hand: $82.6 million

Debt: $9.9 million



ROMNEY VICTORY INC (Joint Romney/RNC fund - third quarter, July through Sept.)

Total raised: $375.6 million

Raised in third quarter: $235.2 million

Cash on hand: $37.4 million



Appendix: SUPER PACS:



RESTORE OUR FUTURE, a Super PAC supporting Romney

Total raised: $110.5 million

Raised in September: $14.8 million

Total spent: $94.9 million

Spent in September: $4.6 million

Cash on hand: $16.6 million



PRIORITIES USA, a Super PAC supporting Obama

Total raised: $50.1 million

Raised in September: $15.3 million

Total spent: $43.6 million

Spent in September: $12.8 million

Cash on hand: $7.3 million



AMERICAN CROSSROADS, a Super PAC supporting Republicans

Total raised: $68.0 million

Raised in September: $11.4 million

Total spent: $53.4 million

Spent in September: $27.9 million

Cash on hand: $15.8 million

Source: Reuters