Democratic Donors Churn Out More Than in 2010

Hedge-fund moguls, hotel-chain magnates, unions, and Hollywood’s elites are stepping up with checkbooks in hand to give millions to Republican and Democratic candidates. Financial disclosure forms filed during the weekend also reveal a Democratic donor base more engaged in this cycle than during the 2010 election season, which Republican groups dominated, The Washington Post reports.

Priorities USA, a group that two of President Obama’s former aides formed, report bringing in $5 million in the first half of the year, including $2 million from Hollywood producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, the chief executive of DreamWorks Animation. The group has spent $724,000 on advertising attacking GOP candidate Mitt Romney in South Carolina, the Post reported.

The Restore Our Future PAC, a group supporting Romney, reported $12 million in contributions, including $1 million from hedge-fund founder John Paulson. Other donors include two members of the Marriott hotel family who kicked in a million each, the Post reported.

American Crossroads, founded with backing from Bush political adviser Karl Rove, reported donations including $100,000 from John Templeton Jr., son of the late billionaire investor and mutual fund pioneer, and Democratic groups focused on congressional races reported $2.3 million in donations, including large amounts from the McKay family, heirs to the Taco Bell fortune, the Post reported.

Not all the donations reported were large. Garrison Keillor, best known for his radio show “A Prairie Home Companion,” donated $250 to the Democratic Senate group Majority PAC, the Post reported.