How Much Did Independent Groups Spend Per Vote?

By Al Shaw, ProPublica, November 9, 2012

Updated: November 10, 2012, 4:05 p.m. | Although an unprecedented amount was spent by outside groups in an effort to influence the 2012 campaign, the candidates with the most super PAC funding were defeated Tuesday. Here's a look at how much outside groups spent per vote in a few of the notable races. These numbers are only estimates, as vote totals remain in flux, as do filings with the Federal Election Commission. Presidential figures are as of May 1, 2012, senate race figures are as of the day after the state's primary. Click a group name to see detailed expenditure and contribution data at PACTrack.

✓ won US President

Barack Obama

$1.78
Spent per vote,
$1.39 of it attacking Mitt Romney

Super PAC	SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION PEA-FEDERAL (supporting Barack Obama)	$0.11 per vote
Super PAC	PRIORITIES USA ACTION (attacking Mitt Romney)	$1.02 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.64 per vote

✖ lost US President

Mitt Romney

$6.23
Spent per vote,
$5.49 of it attacking Barack Obama

Super PAC	RESTORE OUR FUTURE, INC. (supporting Mitt Romney)	$0.19 per vote
Super PAC	AMERICAN CROSSROADS (supporting Mitt Romney)	$0.11 per vote
Super PAC	RESTORE OUR FUTURE, INC. (attacking Barack Obama)	$1.51 per vote
Super PAC	AMERICAN CROSSROADS (attacking Barack Obama)	$1.45 per vote
Party affiliate	REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE (attacking Barack Obama)	$0.69 per vote
501(c)(4)	AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY (attacking Barack Obama)	$0.68 per vote
501(c)(6)	AMERICANS FOR JOB SECURITY (attacking Barack Obama)	$0.26 per vote
501(c)(4)	CROSSROADS GRASSROOTS POLICY STRATEGIES (attacking Barack Obama)	$0.15 per vote
	Other Groups	$1.19 per vote

✓ won Senate, Fla.

Bill Nelson

$1.07
Spent per vote,
$0.82 of it attacking Connie Mack

Party affiliate	DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (attacking Connie Mack)	$0.53 per vote
Super PAC	MAJORITY PAC (attacking Connie Mack)	$0.22 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.32 per vote

✖ lost Senate, Fla.

Connie Mack

$3.92
Spent per vote,
$2.36 of it attacking Bill Nelson

Super PAC	FREEDOM PAC (supporting Connie Mack)	$0.93 per vote
Super PAC	FREEDOMWORKS FOR AMERICA (supporting Connie Mack)	$0.54 per vote
Super PAC	AMERICAN CROSSROADS (attacking Bill Nelson)	$1.18 per vote
501(c)(6)	US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (attacking Bill Nelson)	$0.64 per vote
Super PAC	FREEDOMWORKS FOR AMERICA (attacking Bill Nelson)	$0.29 per vote
501(c)(4)	NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION (attacking Bill Nelson)	$0.11 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.23 per vote

✓ won Senate, Ohio

Sherrod Brown

$5.30
Spent per vote,
$4.46 of it attacking Josh Mandel

Super PAC	SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION PEA-FEDERAL (supporting Sherrod Brown)	$0.49 per vote
Super PAC	WORKERS' VOICE (supporting Sherrod Brown)	$0.11 per vote
Party affiliate	DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (attacking Josh Mandel)	$2.07 per vote
Super PAC	MAJORITY PAC (attacking Josh Mandel)	$1.23 per vote
PAC	NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION (attacking Josh Mandel)	$0.38 per vote
PAC	SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION) (attacking Josh Mandel)	$0.30 per vote
Super PAC	OHIO FAMILIES UNITED (attacking Josh Mandel)	$0.19 per vote
Super PAC	WORKERS' VOICE (attacking Josh Mandel)	$0.13 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.39 per vote

✖ lost Senate, Ohio

Josh Mandel

$8.31
Spent per vote,
$6.42 of it attacking Sherrod Brown

Super PAC	FREEDOMWORKS FOR AMERICA (supporting Josh Mandel)	$0.62 per vote
501(c)(4)	NFIB THE VOICE OF FREE ENTERPRISE INC. (supporting Josh Mandel)	$0.44 per vote
Super PAC	ENDING SPENDING ACTION FUND (supporting Josh Mandel)	$0.18 per vote
Super PAC	GOVERNMENT INTEGRITY FUND ACTION NETWORK; THE (supporting Josh Mandel)	$0.17 per vote
501(c)(4)	FOCUS ON THE FAMILY ACTION (supporting Josh Mandel)	$0.11 per vote
501(c)(4)	CROSSROADS GRASSROOTS POLICY STRATEGIES (attacking Sherrod Brown)	$2.59 per vote
501(c)(6)	US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (attacking Sherrod Brown)	$1.44 per vote
Super PAC	NOW OR NEVER PAC (attacking Sherrod Brown)	$0.51 per vote
Party affiliate	NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE (attacking Sherrod Brown)	$0.42 per vote
Super PAC	CLUB FOR GROWTH ACTION (attacking Sherrod Brown)	$0.35 per vote
Super PAC	FREEDOMWORKS FOR AMERICA (attacking Sherrod Brown)	$0.31 per vote
PAC	NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA POLITICAL VICTORY FUND (attacking Sherrod Brown)	$0.20 per vote
Super PAC	ENDING SPENDING ACTION FUND (attacking Sherrod Brown)	$0.17 per vote
501(c)(6)	ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS INC. (attacking Sherrod Brown)	$0.12 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.67 per vote

✓ won Senate, Va.

Timothy Michael Kaine

$10.96
Spent per vote,
$9.86 of it attacking George Allen

Super PAC	SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION PEA-FEDERAL (supporting Timothy Michael Kaine)	$0.42 per vote
Super PAC	MAJORITY PAC (supporting Timothy Michael Kaine)	$0.41 per vote
Party affiliate	DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (attacking George Allen)	$4.17 per vote
Super PAC	MAJORITY PAC (attacking George Allen)	$2.67 per vote
501(c)(4)	LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC (attacking George Allen)	$1.08 per vote
PAC	SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION) (attacking George Allen)	$0.48 per vote
PAC	AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES P E O P L E (attacking George Allen)	$0.40 per vote
501(c)(4)	VOTEVETS.ORG ACTION FUND (attacking George Allen)	$0.37 per vote
PAC	NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION (attacking George Allen)	$0.28 per vote
PAC	UNITED FOOD & COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION ACTIVE BALLOT CLUB (attacking George Allen)	$0.13 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.55 per vote

✖ lost Senate, Va.

George Allen

$9.85
Spent per vote,
$8.96 of it attacking Timothy Michael Kaine

Super PAC	FREEDOMWORKS FOR AMERICA (supporting George Allen)	$0.30 per vote
501(c)(4)	NFIB THE VOICE OF FREE ENTERPRISE INC. (supporting George Allen)	$0.18 per vote
Super PAC	INDEPENDENCE VIRGINIA PAC (attacking Timothy Michael Kaine)	$2.87 per vote
501(c)(6)	US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (attacking Timothy Michael Kaine)	$1.76 per vote
Party affiliate	NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE (attacking Timothy Michael Kaine)	$1.73 per vote
501(c)(4)	CROSSROADS GRASSROOTS POLICY STRATEGIES (attacking Timothy Michael Kaine)	$1.34 per vote
Super PAC	AMERICAN CROSSROADS (attacking Timothy Michael Kaine)	$0.42 per vote
501(c)(4)	AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM (attacking Timothy Michael Kaine)	$0.27 per vote
PAC	NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA POLITICAL VICTORY FUND (attacking Timothy Michael Kaine)	$0.15 per vote
501(c)(4)	NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION (attacking Timothy Michael Kaine)	$0.13 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.68 per vote

✓ won Senate, Wis.

Tammy Baldwin

$13.06
Spent per vote,
$11.49 of it attacking Tommy G. Thompson

Super PAC	SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION PEA-FEDERAL (supporting Tammy Baldwin)	$0.49 per vote
501(c)(4)	LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC (supporting Tammy Baldwin)	$0.26 per vote
Super PAC	WOMEN VOTE! (supporting Tammy Baldwin)	$0.14 per vote
Super PAC	WORKERS' VOICE (supporting Tammy Baldwin)	$0.14 per vote
PAC	SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION) (supporting Tammy Baldwin)	$0.12 per vote
Party affiliate	DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (attacking Tommy G. Thompson)	$4.61 per vote
Super PAC	MAJORITY PAC (attacking Tommy G. Thompson)	$2.91 per vote
Super PAC	WOMEN VOTE! (attacking Tommy G. Thompson)	$1.42 per vote
PAC	AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES P E O P L E (attacking Tommy G. Thompson)	$1.13 per vote
PAC	SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION) (attacking Tommy G. Thompson)	$0.52 per vote
501(c)(4)	LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC (attacking Tommy G. Thompson)	$0.36 per vote
PAC	NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION (attacking Tommy G. Thompson)	$0.15 per vote
Super PAC	WORKERS' VOICE (attacking Tommy G. Thompson)	$0.14 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.66 per vote

✖ lost Senate, Wis.

Tommy G. Thompson

$8.40
Spent per vote,
$6.49 of it attacking Tammy Baldwin

Super PAC	AMERICAN CROSSROADS (supporting Tommy G. Thompson)	$0.98 per vote
501(c)(6)	AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL, INC (supporting Tommy G. Thompson)	$0.47 per vote
501(c)(4)	NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION (supporting Tommy G. Thompson)	$0.14 per vote
501(c)(4)	FOCUS ON THE FAMILY ACTION (supporting Tommy G. Thompson)	$0.11 per vote
501(c)(4)	CROSSROADS GRASSROOTS POLICY STRATEGIES (attacking Tammy Baldwin)	$1.82 per vote
Party affiliate	NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE (attacking Tammy Baldwin)	$1.78 per vote
501(c)(6)	US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (attacking Tammy Baldwin)	$1.46 per vote
Super PAC	AMERICAN CROSSROADS (attacking Tammy Baldwin)	$0.98 per vote
501(c)(4)	AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM (attacking Tammy Baldwin)	$0.15 per vote
PAC	NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA POLITICAL VICTORY FUND (attacking Tammy Baldwin)	$0.12 per vote
501(c)(4)	NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION (attacking Tammy Baldwin)	$0.12 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.28 per vote

✓ won Senate, Ind.

Joseph S. Donnelly

$8.29
Spent per vote,
$8.18 of it attacking Richard E. Mourdock

Super PAC	MAJORITY PAC (supporting Joseph S. Donnelly)	$0.11 per vote
Super PAC	MAJORITY PAC (attacking Richard E. Mourdock)	$3.39 per vote
Party affiliate	DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (attacking Richard E. Mourdock)	$3.26 per vote
501(c)(4)	CENTER FORWARD (attacking Richard E. Mourdock)	$0.55 per vote
501(c)(4)	VOTEVETS.ORG ACTION FUND (attacking Richard E. Mourdock)	$0.46 per vote
PAC	AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES P E O P L E (attacking Richard E. Mourdock)	$0.25 per vote
527	Believe in Indiana (attacking Richard E. Mourdock)	$0.17 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.11 per vote

✖ lost Senate, Ind.

Richard E. Mourdock

$9.89
Spent per vote,
$7.72 of it attacking Joseph S. Donnelly

Super PAC	FREEDOMWORKS FOR AMERICA (supporting Richard E. Mourdock)	$1.22 per vote
PAC	SENATE CONSERVATIVES FUND (supporting Richard E. Mourdock)	$0.18 per vote
Super PAC	CLUB FOR GROWTH ACTION (supporting Richard E. Mourdock)	$0.16 per vote
501(c)(4)	INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S VOICE (supporting Richard E. Mourdock)	$0.16 per vote
Party affiliate	NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE (attacking Joseph S. Donnelly)	$3.38 per vote
Super PAC	CLUB FOR GROWTH ACTION (attacking Joseph S. Donnelly)	$1.77 per vote
Super PAC	AMERICAN CROSSROADS (attacking Joseph S. Donnelly)	$1.23 per vote
Super PAC	FREEDOMWORKS FOR AMERICA (attacking Joseph S. Donnelly)	$0.66 per vote
Super PAC	SENATE CONSERVATIVES ACTION (attacking Joseph S. Donnelly)	$0.45 per vote
501(c)(4)	CROSSROADS GRASSROOTS POLICY STRATEGIES (attacking Joseph S. Donnelly)	$0.12 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.55 per vote

✓ won Senate, Nev.

Dean Heller

$18.32
Spent per vote,
$17.63 of it attacking Shelley Berkley

PAC	POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS (supporting Dean Heller)	$0.27 per vote
501(c)(4)	FOCUS ON THE FAMILY ACTION (supporting Dean Heller)	$0.17 per vote
501(c)(4)	CROSSROADS GRASSROOTS POLICY STRATEGIES (attacking Shelley Berkley)	$11.19 per vote
Party affiliate	NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE (attacking Shelley Berkley)	$3.79 per vote
501(c)(4)	AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM (attacking Shelley Berkley)	$0.81 per vote
Super PAC	AMERICAN CROSSROADS (attacking Shelley Berkley)	$0.76 per vote
Super PAC	COOPERATIVE OF AMERICAN PHYSICIANS IE COMMITTEE (attacking Shelley Berkley)	$0.36 per vote
Super PAC	FREEDOMWORKS FOR AMERICA (attacking Shelley Berkley)	$0.24 per vote
501(c)(4)	FREEDOM BORN FUND (attacking Shelley Berkley)	$0.18 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.54 per vote

✖ lost Senate, Nev.

Shelley Berkley

$32.91
Spent per vote,
$29.79 of it attacking Dean Heller

Super PAC	SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION PEA-FEDERAL (supporting Shelley Berkley)	$1.75 per vote
Party affiliate	DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (supporting Shelley Berkley)	$0.38 per vote
PAC	SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION) (supporting Shelley Berkley)	$0.31 per vote
Super PAC	WORKERS' VOICE (supporting Shelley Berkley)	$0.24 per vote
Super PAC	THE VOICES OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (supporting Shelley Berkley)	$0.11 per vote
Party affiliate	DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (attacking Dean Heller)	$11.09 per vote
501(c)(4)	PATRIOT MAJORITY USA (attacking Dean Heller)	$8.39 per vote
PAC	AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES P E O P L E (attacking Dean Heller)	$4.37 per vote
Super PAC	MAJORITY PAC (attacking Dean Heller)	$2.58 per vote
Super PAC	WOMEN VOTE! (attacking Dean Heller)	$2.05 per vote
PAC	SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION) (attacking Dean Heller)	$0.73 per vote
Super PAC	WORKERS' VOICE (attacking Dean Heller)	$0.24 per vote
Super PAC	DEFEND OUR HOMES (attacking Dean Heller)	$0.17 per vote
501(c)(4)	NEVADA ADVOCATES FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD AFFILIATES (attacking Dean Heller)	$0.11 per vote
	Other Groups	$0.37 per vote

Source: Federal Election Commission via The New York Times Campaign Finance API