Huge economic stimulus package for campaign operatives

Romney spends big on firms tied to aides

Mitt Romney's campaign has paid $134.2 million to political firms with ties to his senior staff, for consulting and other services.

By Matea Gold, Maloy Moore and Melanie Mason, Los Angeles Times

8:50 PM PDT, October 26, 2012

WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney's campaign has directed $134.2 million to political firms with business ties to his senior staff, spotlighting the tightknit nature of his second presidential bid and the staggering sums being spent in this election.

Nine firms that are run by, or recently employed, top Romney aides have received almost a third of the $435.8 million that Romney's campaign and a related fundraising committee have spent on operating expenses through Oct. 17, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis of federal election finance reports.

President Obama's reelection campaign and a joint fundraising committee have paid about $5.8 million in consulting fees to companies with business ties to senior strategists, according to the finance reports.

The campaign finance reports show that this year's presidential race has created a huge economic stimulus package for campaign operatives, whose total payday is often undisclosed.

(More here.)