Donors giving to potential GOP candidates

NEW YORK, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- A handful of big donors are contributing large sums of money to candidates who might become the 2012 Republican nominee for president, observers said.

Citing one example, The New York Times said former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is not yet running for president, has attracted several large donations of approximately $100,000.

The newspaper said the funds are coming through a network of state political action committees Romney set up to enable him to avoid federal campaign finance limits.

A similar arrangement has let Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty bring in big donations, including a $60,000 pledge from Texas homebuilder Bob J. Perry, who along with his wife Doylene are one of the Republican Party's biggest donors.

The large donations to politicians' "leadership PACs" are possible even while donations to federal PACs are limited to $5,000, the newspaper said.

"People are shopping," said Kirk Blalock, a partner at Washington lobbying firm Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock who was a top fundraiser for Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential bid. "People aren't buying yet."

The Times said many big-money Republican donors are awaiting decisions by potential 2012 presidential candidates, which could include Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.