Mitt Romney's 'huge' spending advantage: By the numbers

The GOP frontrunner barely beat Rick Santorum in the Michigan primary, but he certainly distinguished himself when it came to spending

Mitt Romney: Big spender
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Mitt Romney squeaked through Michigan's GOP presidential primary this week with a narrow, three-percent win over Rick Santorum. And the allocation of the state's 30 delegates was even tighter — both candidates emerged with 15, leading Santorum's camp to call the race a tie. But the campaign spending race wasn't even close, with Romney, once again, outspending his rivals by a mile. Here, a look at the Republican frontrunner's "huge" financial edge, by the numbers:

$4.3 million

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$2.3 million

Amount Santorum and his backers spent in the state. Most of the total — $1.3 million — came from the pro-Santorum super PAC, Red White and Blue Fund.

$242,205

Amount that Priorities USA, a super PAC supporting President Obama, spent on ads attacking Romney

$49,999

Amount Ron Paul spent in Michigan

$659,779

Amount the pro-Romney Restore Our Future spent on Tuesday's primary in Arizona, which Romney won handily. His campaign spent nothing.

$52,114

Amount Santorum spent in Arizona

5

Dollars Romney spent in Florida for every $1 spent by Newt Gingrich, who, after a victory in the South Carolina primary, was then Romney's biggest rival

3

Dollars Romney spent for every $1 Gingrich spent in Iowa, where Romney and his allies "buried" the former House speaker with negative ads

$38 million

Total campaign spending by Romney and his "pet" PAC to date

$9.7 million

Total spent by Newt Gingrich and the super PAC supporting him

$6 million

Total spent to date by Santorum and his super PAC, the Red White and Blue Fund

$6.5 million

Amount Romney raised in January

$32 million

Amount Barack Obama raised in January 2008, when he was locked in a Democratic primary battle with Hillary Clinton

Sources: Hot Air, Politico, Telegraph, Wash. Post