The cost of Mitt Romney's nomination: By the numbers
After Tuesday's primary victories, Romney effectively secured the Republican nomination. But it didn't come cheap

The Republican presidential nomination was all but wrapped up before this week's primary elections, but after Mitt Romney swept all five states holding votes on Tuesday, even last-rival-standing Newt Gingrich (sorry, Ron Paul fans) threw in the towel. Romney's victory didn't come cheap, though. His campaign spent more than his three nearest rivals combined in order to secure the nomination, and the disparity grows if you include the TV ads paid for by pro-Romney super PACs. Here's a look at just how expensive Romney's primary battle turned out to be, and a taste of how he spent his war chest:
$76.6 million
Amount Romney spent on his primary battles, through March 31
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
$18.50
Cost of each of the 4.1 million votes he won
$126,000
Cost of each of the 607 delegates he won
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
$122 million
Total amount spent on the Romney campaign, including money donated to his super PAC Restore Our Future
10
Candidates who were ahead of Romney in the polls at one point or another
93
Full-time staff employed by the Romney campaign
$62,947
Average salary of Romney staffers
$10.1 million
Amount the Romney campaign spent in March alone
$66,120
The Romney campaign's March rent
$70,165
March payments to law and lobbying firm Patton Boggs
$1.2 million
March spending on direct mail consulting
$1.1 million
March travel expenses
$391,487
March spending on catering and facility rentals
$344,843
March spending on event consulting
$11,000
Amount the Romney campaign paid to New York City's Waldorf Astoria hotel in March
$1,966
Amount Team Romney spent on office supplies from Apple in March
$871
Amount Team Romney spent on Poland Spring water in March
$48
Amount Team Romney spent at Arby's in March
$50+
What they spent at Applebee's
$21 million
Amount Newt Gingrich spent on his primary campaign ($39 million with his super PAC)
$10
Cost for each of the 2.2 million votes he won ($150,000 per delegate)
$4.3 million
The Gingrich campaign's remaining debt
$18.7 million
Amount Rick Santorum spent on his primary campaign ($28 million with his super PAC)
$6.50
Cost for each of the 2.9 million votes he won ($71,000 per delegate)
$35 million
Amount Ron Paul spent on his primary battle
$32.40
Cost for each of the 1.1 million votes he won ($485,500 per delegate)
$89 million
Amount President Obama's re-election campaign has spent during the GOP primary
$600 million
Amount Team Romney hopes to raise for the general election
$750 million+
Amount Team Obama hopes to raise for the general election
Sources: BuzzFeed, CNNMoney, New York Times, Talking Points Memo (2)
-
Music reviews: Bon Iver, Valerie June, and The Waterboys
Feature "Sable, Fable," "Owls, Omens, and Oracles," "Life, Death, and Dennis Hopper"
By The Week US
-
Are bonds worth investing in?
the explainer They can diversify your portfolio and tend to be a safer investment than stocks
By Becca Stanek, The Week US
-
Elon has his 'Legion.' How will Republicans encourage other Americans to have babies?
Today's Big Question The pronatalist movement finds itself in power
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK