(Image Source: Think Progress)

BY ALLIE SPILLYARDS


The numbers are in.
Campaign finance reports were released last week-- and the media’s buzzing.
What does this mean for 2012?
Politico explains.

“The figures offer clues about the state of play in upcoming House and Senate races, including who’s headed for the exits, who’s got enough cash to topple an incumbent and which long-serving members are bracing for a fight by stockpiling cash to help defend their seats.”

Last week President Obama’s campaign blew likely GOP contenders out of the water with record-setting fundraising numbers.

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S CAMPAIGN MANAGER: “Globally we raised more than 86 million dollars. More than 47 million for Obama for America and more than 38 million for the DNC.”

But many in the media remind-- the RNC has yet to release it’s total funds.

“While Obama's numbers are huge, the nature of political spending in the post-Citizens United decision era could make them less important. Messina warns in the video that GOP-leaning outside spending could total as much as $500 million, all of it from undisclosed sources. Obama and the Democrats have their own Citizens United-style anonymous spending groups, though they expect to be outspent by Republican-leaning undisclosed cash.”

So where do the Republicans stand in comparison? A writer for The Huffington Post says...

“Romney's numbers far outpaced his Republican rivals as both Ron Paul and Tim Pawlenty each reported raising just $4.5 million, Michelle Bachman raised $3.6 million (half of which was transferred from her congressional fundraising account) and no other Republican challenger was able to raise more than $2.6 million.”

And according to the LA Times...

“The first look at the campaign finance activities of the 2012 White House contenders underscored not only President Obama's huge cash advantage over his rivals but also the wide disparities in the Republican field, setting the stage for an urgent money hunt by GOP candidates in the coming months.”

And with activity to both Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani's accounts, some wonder-- are they gearing up to run? A writer for the Washington Times says-- not necessarily.

“...the race is still open, and federal rules allow politicians to raise and spend money through other accounts without declaring a candidacy... Such activity is not a sure sign that the politician behind the fund will run for office, however. The old presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton... has been actively raising money over the last three months... after it went into debt in a protracted competition against Mr. Obama.”

And as Republican candidates clamor for the front-runner title-- a writer for Commentary Magazine says go back to the bottom line.

“No matter who comes out ahead in the Republican dust-up, they will have their hands full attempting to compete against a Democratic president who may wind up raising more than $1 billion in 2012.”

The next quarter’s numbers will be released in October.