Who is holding the anti-Gingrich spending hammer?

Earlier I posted a piece about how independent spending was directed heavily against Newt Gingrich.  Who is doing it?  Primarily one Super PAC.  In it I noted that $15.9 million was spent against Newt Gingrich.  Digging deeper in Open Secrets, it's interesting to note that $15.7 million of that spending has come from just ONE PAC.

That PAC, Restore Our Future, was responsible for 98.99% of the anti-Gingrich spending.  They've spent more than any other PAC.

Candidate	Party	Office	Total	For	Against
Gingrich, Newt	R	President	$15,746,870	$0	$15,746,870
Romney, Mitt	R	President	$759,227	$759,227	$0
Santorum, Rick	R	President	$396,653	$0	$396,653

The PAC, according to Wikipedia, is one founded by former Romney aides;

Restore Our Future was founded by Romney aides in 2010.[2] Charles Spies, the group's treasurer and former general counsel for Romney's 2008 campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination, described Restore Our Future as "an independent effort focused on getting Romney elected president."[1] The group reported raising over $12 million in the first half of 2011, in the form of large donations from approximately 90 wealthy individuals and corporations.[3] Spies declined to discuss specific contributors to the PAC.[4]

 Thanks to the Citizens United decision, there's nothing illegal about that, as long as the Super PAC does not co-ordinate or communicate with the candidate.  Assuming they are not doing so, they clearly have violated Reagan's 11th Commandment.  They are not alone by any means, but they are far and away the worst offender, and they are in the Mitt Romney camp, along with the Newt-Bashing Bob Dole and John McCain.

Anti-Gingrich Spending Hammer

ouch.

Via Open Secrets (see snapshot below is from today), below is a summary of the independent expenditures (primarily from 527 PACs).  Out of $22.4 million spent on negative ads to date, 70.7% has been spent against Newt Gingrich.  Out of the money spent pro-Newt or anti-Newt, 83.9% have been run against Newt.  Out if all the money spent both pro and anti any candidate (i.e. all campaign spending by independent sources), 55.6% of all money spent, has been anti-Gingrich.

With all of that negativity aimed in his direction, not only is it amazing Newt Gingrich hasn't blown a gasket yet (indicating that he probably won't during the remainder of the election cycle), but it's truly astounding that he is in this race at all at this point.

That has to bode well for the long term of his candidacy if indeed he can win Florida even come close, the money should come.

Candidates Opposed/Supported

Candidate	Entire Cycle Total	Last Week Total	Last 24 Hours Total	Supported	Opposed
Gingrich, Newt (R)	$18,955,343	$7,069,723	$0	$3,049,023	$15,906,320
Romney, Mitt (R)	$6,311,434	$1,507,013	$0	$1,689,400	$4,622,034
Obama, Barack (D)	$2,086,413	$10,490	$0	$637,468	$1,428,699
Santorum, Rick (R)	$2,498,560	$0	$0	$2,099,559	$399,001
Paul, Ron (R)	$3,694,206	$173,918	$350	$3,561,216	$132,990
Perry, Rick (R)	$3,964,824	$0	$0	$3,964,824	$0
Huntsman, Jon (R)	$2,453,454	$0	$0	$2,453,454	$0
Cain, Herman (R)	$501,718	$0	$0	$501,718	$0
Total	$40,465,952	$8,761,144	$350	$17,956,662	$22,489,044