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GOP outguns Dems in super-PAC fundraising

Hedge fund manager George Soros, chairman of Soros Fund Management LLC, is among the large democratic donors contributing to various progressive groups. (UPI Photo/Yuri Gripas)
Hedge fund manager George Soros, chairman of Soros Fund Management LLC, is among the large democratic donors contributing to various progressive groups. (UPI Photo/Yuri Gripas) | License Photo

WASHINGTON, May 9 (UPI) -- Republican-leaning super-PACs raised $156.5 million while pro-Democratic super-PACs took in $43.4 million so far in the 2012 U.S. election, a review indicated.

Although financier George Soros said he would contribute $2 million to several progressive groups, the reluctance to contribute by large donors has been a source of frustration for pro-Democrat independent expenditure groups such as Priorities USA Action, Roll Call reported Wednesday.

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Priorities USA Action collected $2.5 million in March, well above the $58,815 the group raised in January, Political MoneyLine reported. Yet, the $9 million that Priorities USA Action collected this cycle lags well behind the $51.9 million raised by Restore Our Future, the super-Political Action Committee backing presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

The lopsided advantage GOP-leaning super-PACs enjoy has forced Democratic super-PACs to follow increasingly creative strategies to leverage resources, such as targeting supporters in donor-friendly regions, teaming with progressive activists and labor groups on ad buys and using so-called micro-targeting to reach specific voter blocs, observers said. They're also reaching out to former Democratic officeholders, such as President Bill Clinton, to urge reluctant donors to open their wallets.

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"In some ways, the Democrats are in the dating stage with various super PACs," said major Democratic donor Heather Podesta, founder of the government relations firm Heather Podesta + Partners. "And I think over the next six to 10 weeks you are going to see Democrats putting down major money in the super-PACs. They are going to commit themselves to marriage."

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