Alaska News

SarahPAC spends more than $750,000 in third quarter

A lot has happened since former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was hoisted into the national spotlight as John McCain's vice-presidential running mate in 2008. Although the GOP ticket was defeated by the Obama-Biden camp, Palin's career trajectory swung into the national scene and stayed there. Even though she was not invited to speak at this year's Republican National Convention, Palin still has her hand in the 2012 elections -- and not just as a Fox News contributor. She's a money-donating powerhouse.

Politico reports that federal records filed on Sunday show Palin's Super PAC spent more than $774,000 during the third quarter of 2012, after taking in some $843,500, mostly from donors who contributed $200 or less. The political PAC far surpassed its haul from the second quarter, when it raked in less than $580,000.

What did the Sarah PAC spend its money on? Records show expenses of postage, direct mail and contact-list rentals cost about $500,000. Speech-writing expenses came in at $18,000. Travel expenses, including airfare and vehicle rentals, accounted for tens of thousands of dollars. And there were $5,000 contributions to 10 congressional candidates, including Arizona Rep. Jeff Flake, Ted Yoho of Florida, Republican Senate candidate Ted Cruz of Texas, and Republican House candidate Mia Love of Utah. Smaller campaign donations were given to a handful of other candidates as well.

Sarah PAC rounded out the third quarter with $1.25 million on hand, more than the previous quarter, when it reported $1.18 million. Besides spending money and offering opinions for Fox News, Palin also recently announced that she is writing a fitness book.

Read more from Politico.

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

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