World Crisis Online

A long list of possible Republican presidential candidates have been busy raising millions of dollars over the past two years, although not a single one has officially thrown his – or her – hat in the ring.

Campaign finance experts say it is unusual that, even at this early stage of the 2012 presidential contest, Republican candidates have not yet begun to organise campaign committees or raise funds formally at the level necessary to win the Republican nomination to take on Barack Obama.

But a review of federal campaign data shows the potential candidates were able to raise a substantial amount of money to promote themselves and back other Republican candidates’ political campaigns.

While these funds may not be used for a presidential campaign – a candidate must officially announce their intention to run and create a separate committee for that purpose – the contributions donated to the candidates from 2009 to 2010 offer a picture of the kinds of donors lining up for what is likely to be a tough Republican primary contest.

Newt GingrichThe former Republican speaker of the House, who will announce whether he is running for president in April, has proved to be one of the most adept fundraisers so far. A tax-exempt issue advocacy group chaired by Mr Gingrich, called American Solutions for Winning the Future, raised – and spent – about $24.4m from 2009 to October 2010, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Leading contributors include big coal interests such as Peabody Energy and Arch Coal, a group that is at loggerheads with the Obama administration over a permit that was revoked by environmental regulators.

Other big donors include Las Vegas Sands, which gave the group $500,000. It is unclear if the donation came from executives or the company, a resort and gaming group that generates most of its revenue from casinos in Macao and Singapore. Crow Holdings, a Texas-based real estate investment group, gave $350,000.

American Solutions, which is advocating a campaign to end the Obama healthcare reforms, has spent $11.7m to create a direct mail fundraising network.

According to tax records, American Solutions also paid out $235,000 in “small loans” to a holding company controlled by Mr Gingrich in 2009. A spokesman for the group said it was repaying a loan Gingrich Holdings had made to the political organisation a year earlier “as a precaution to make sure it had cash flow”.

Mr Gingrich and his associates have also spent $2.2m in private chartered jet travel since 2009. The former speaker’s political action committee raised more than $700,000, and donated $125,700 to Republican candidates and other political action committees, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Sarah PalinMs Palin has proved to be a Republican kingmaker over the past two years, which could give her a boost among influential Tea Party lawmakers.

SarahPac, her political action committee, raised $5.4m over the past two years, with about $500,000 going mostly to Tea Party candidates.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, most of the money flowing into SarahPac comes from individuals who work for single-cause organisations, people working in finance or retirees. SarahPac spent more than $1.4m on political and media consultants and fundraising over the past two years.

Mike HuckabeeThe former Arkansas governor has raised more than $1.7m since 2009, mostly from retirees and healthcare professionals, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Donors who have given $10,000 include a theatre group called Celebrity Attractions and a Memphis gastroenterology group.

Mitt RomneyAsk any Republican on Wall Street and they will tell you that Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who lost the Republican primary against John McCain in 2008, is a natural fundraiser.

The former Bain executive raised $8.8m through his political action committee over the last election cycle, with much of the funds coming from the financial industry.

Individuals working for Goldman Sachs donated nearly $200,000 to Mr Romney in the 2010 election cycle, followed by $88,500 from those working for Bain, the private equity group, and $40,500 from people living in a huge Florida retirement community known as The Villages.

About $1.1m has been directed to Republican candidates.

The Pac has spent more than $2m on campaign and fundraising expenses.

Tim PawlentyThe former Minnesota governor emerged on the national scene as a potential running-mate for Republican nominee John McCain in 2008. Since then, he has raised $3.3m with the help of corporate donations from Comcast, Enterprise-Rent-A-Car, Target and AT&T and a handful of $10,000 donations from wealthy individuals and retirees.

Marco RubioThe Florida senator is not considered a presidential contender, but he is almost universally regarded as a likely candidate for vice-president. Mr Rubio would be an attractive choice because he could attract Hispanic voters and is popular in Florida, a battleground state.

His campaign to be senator proved he is a formidable fundraiser, having raised and spent $21m on his election. Fundraisers included employees at Club for Growth, a conservative anti-tax group, and employees of Elliott Management, the New York hedge fund founded by Paul Singer.