Interest Group Ads—The Primaries

The super PACs played a major role in the 2012 primary advertising campaign (Iowa mix); other interest groups weighed in to a lesser degree.  The biggest spender by far among the super PACs was Restore Our Future which according to the Center for Responsive Politics OpenSecrets.org had spent $42.5 million by the end of April 2012, about $40 million of which went to savaging Gingrich and then Santorum.
See also: Interest Group Ads—General Election.

With assistance from Mike Dec, 4president.org.

Supporting and/or Opposing Individual Republicans

Supporting Bachmann
No Compromise PAC
5 radio ads run on AM 1040 WHO in Des Moines, IA Jan. 2-3, 2011. +

NFC PAC
radio ad run on AM 1040 WHO in Des Moines, IA Jan. 2-3, 2011.

Keep Conservatives United
KCU-Budget-c4 (Aug. 31, 2011 - TV ad, Columbia, SC). +


Supporting Cain
Americans for Herman Cain
"Vindicating Herman Cain" (early Dec. 2012 - TV ad, IA). +
"High Tech Lynching" (Nov. 3, 2011 - 1:18 web video). +
"Rock 'em, Sock 'em Romney-Perry" (Oct. 25, 2011 - 1:10 web video). +
"A Real Choice" (Oct. 18, 2011 - 1:09 web video). +


Supporting Gingrich
Winning Our Future PAC
"It's Time to Choose Newt" (end of Feb. 2012 - TV ads, GA, OH, OK, TN; AL, MS and KS). 30/60 and radio.
 "Time to Choose-Molly" and "Time to Choose-Joey" (end of Feb. 2012 - national radio buy heading into Super Tuesday).
"Next" (end of Feb. 2012 - GA, OH). +
"Blood Money" (Jan. 27, 2012 - TV ad, FL). +
"Think You Know Mitt" (late Jan. 2012 - TV ad, FL). +
TV, radio ads based on "King of Bain" (28:02 video). +
title? (late Dec. 2011 - radio ad, IA).
"20 to 1" (late Dec. 2011 - TV ad, IA).  +

Citizens United
"Gingrich on Reagan Documentary" (Dec. 22, 2011 - TV ad, IA). +


Supporting Huntsman
Our Destiny PAC
"Two" (end of Dec. 2011 - TV ad, NH). +
"Quotes" (Dec. 2011 - TV ad, NH). +
"Someone" (Nov. 15, 2011 - TV ad, NH). +

William DeJean
"America is Bleeding" (Aug. 24, 2011 - TV ad, Columbia, SC). +


Supporting Paul
Santa Rita Super PAC +
7 TV ads run in Jan. 2012 in the lead up to the SC primary
"Bailout"
"Electability"
"No More Masks"
"Support Of, and From"
"Our Troops"
"What the Polls Show"
"Where Are You?"

Revolution PAC +
"The Compassion of Dr. Ron Paul" (from late Dec. 2011, seen on TV in NH from Jan. 6, 2012). .
"Plastic Men" (Sept. 12, 2011, run Oct. 18, 2011 in conjunction with CNN debate).

Opposing Paul
National Organization for Marriage
"Ron Paul: Wrong on Marriage" (Dec. 28, 2011 - TV ad, IA). +


Supporting Perry
Make Us Great Again
"The Difference" (Jan. 13, 2012, TV ad, SC).
"Newsreel" (Dec. 21, 2011 - TV ad, IA and SC).
"Elites" (Dec. 5, 2011 - TV ad, IA and SC).
"True Conservative" (radio ad). +
"Conservative" (Nov. 1, 2011 - SC, Nov. 2, 2011 - IA).
"Leadership" (Nov. 1, 2011 - SC, Nov. 2, 2011 - IA).

Jobs for Iowa +
"What If?" (Aug. 1, 2011 - IA).

GrowPAC +
?title (July 26, 2011 - radio ad, IA).


Supporting Romney
Citizens for a Working America
"Romney 'Believe in America'" (late Dec. 2011 - TV ad, IA). +

Restore Our Future
"Care" (approx. March 27, 2012 - TV ad, WI). +
"Own Words" (approx. March 1, 2012 - TV ad, OH, OK, TN). +
"Values" (Feb. 24, 2012 - TV ad, MI). +
"Saved" (Feb. 23, 2012 - TV ad, MI). +
"Right Experience" (Feb. 15, 2012 - TV ad, TN, OK, MS, AL). +
"Votes" (Feb. 14, 2012 - TV ad, AZ, MI and OH). +
"Risk" (latter part of Jan. 2012 - TV ad, FL and MI). +
"Reagan" (Jan. 25, 2012 - TV ad, FL). +
"Facts" (mid-Jan. 2012, TV ad, FL). +
"Desperate" (approx. Jan. 12, 2012 - TV ad, SC and FL). +
"Whoops" (Dec. 29, 2011 - TV ad, IA). +
"Happy" (Dec. 21, 2011 - TV ad, IA). +
"Too Much" (Dec. 21, 2011 - TV ad, IA). +
"Plan" (Dec. 14, 2011 - TV ad, IA; Dec. 16, 2011, FL). +
"Smiling" (Dec. 9, 2011 - TV ad, IA). +
"Now You See the Problem" (Dec. 7, 2011 - TV ad, IA). +

Opposing Romney
AFSCME
"Romney's World" (late Feb. 2012 - TV ad, OH). +
"Greed" (approx Jan. 20, 2012 - TV ad, FL). +

MoveOn.org Political Action
"Tell Mitt Romney: Kittens Are Cute. 1% Fat Cats? Not So Much." (April 16, 2012 - TV ad, Animal Planet). +
"He'd Let America Fail" (Feb. 24, 2012 - TV ad, MI cable). +
"Mitt Romney is Mr. 1%" (Dec. 2, 2011 - TV ad, IA cable). +

People for the American Way
"Mitt Romney: Man of the Corporations" (Aug. 15, 2011, TV ad, NH). +

Priorities USA Action +
"Romney's World View" (April 16, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Romney's Big Oil Trail" (April 2, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NM, NV, OH and VA). +
"Bankrupt" (Feb. 22, 2012 - TV ad, MI). +

SEIU COPE w/ Priorities USA Action
"Mitt Romney No Tiene Vergüenza" (Feb. 1, 2012 - radio ad en Español, Tampa and Orlando, FL and Las Vegas and Reno, NV). +
"Dos Caras" (Jan. 24, 2012 - radio ad en Español, Tampa and Orlando, FL). +


Roemer
Americans for a Better Tomorrow Tommorow (Colbert Super PAC)
"Undaunted Non-Coordination" (Nov. 7, 2011 - 0:58 web video). +


Supporting Santorum
Leaders for Family Super PAC
title? (late Dec. 2011, TV ad, IA).
"Momentum" (late Dec. 2011, radio ad, IA).

Red White and Blue Fund
"Meet" (March 15, 2012 - TV ad, IL). +
"America's Future" (annc'd March 13, 2012 - TV ad, LA). +
?"Obama" (Feb. 24, 2012) +
"Vital Decisions" (Feb. 22, 2012 - TV ad, MI). +
"Bold Plan" (mid-Feb. 2012 - TV ad, MI). +
"The Only One" (Feb. 2012 - TV ad, MN). +
"Trust" (Feb. 1, 2012 - TV ad, MO). +
"Values" (Jan. 14, 2012 - TV ad, SC). +
"Pride" (weekend of Jan. 7, 2012 - TV ad, SC). +
"Devoted" (Dec. 28, 2011 - TV ad, IA). +
"True Conservative" (mid-Dec. 2011 - TV ad). +

Susan B. Anthony List
"Will" (Feb. 23, 2012 - radio ad, MI). +

 
Christie
Americans for Responsible Leadership +
"Chris Christie for President" (Oct. 3, 2011 - 1:08 web video).


Palin
Sarah Palin's Iowa Earthquake
"Vote Rogue" (heard on Jan. 1, 2011 on AM 1040 WHO, radio ad, IA). +

Conservatives4Palin
"The Challenge" (Nov. 30, 2011 - TV ad, Sioux City, IA). +


Opposing Obama
American Energy Alliance
"Nine Dollar Gas" (March 29, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NM, OH and VA). +

American Future Fund
"On the Hook" (April 24, 2012 - CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NM, OH and VA). +
"Obama's Wall Street" (Feb. 27, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NM, NC, OH and VA). +
"The Real State of the Union" (Jan. 23, 2012 - national cable). +

Americans for Prosperity
"Wasteful Spending" (April 26, 2012 - TV ad) +
"Obama Sacrifices Pawns for Politics" (Jan. 16, 2012 - TV ad, IA, MI, NC, OH, VA and WI) +

Crossroads GPS +
"Cecil Roberts" (April 13, 2012 - radio ad, Western PA, Southern OH, WV). +
"Too Much" (April 11, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, NV, OH and VA). +
"Deflect" (March 21, 2012 - TV ad, Albuquerque, NM, Columbus, OH, Las Vegas, NV). +
"Every Level" (Feb. 1, 2012 - TV ad, national cable). +
"Typical" (Dec. 12, 2011 - TV ad, national cable). +
"Thread" (July 26, 2011 - TV ad, national cable and key states).
"Despertarse" (July 18, 2011 - TV ad, markets in CO, FL, NM, NV, TX and DC; en Español).
"Wake Up" (July 8, 2011 - TV ad, national cable and key states).
"Shovel Ready" (June 27, 2011 - TV ad, national cable and key states).
"The System" (March 9, 2011 - TV ad, national).

The Campaign to Defeat Barack Obama +
"Thank You Gov. Walker & Republican Senators" (March 17, 2011 - TV ad, WI).
"We Support Gov. Scott Walker..." (Feb. 25, 2011 - TV ad, WI).

No American Debt +
[title?] (May 25, 2011 - TV ad, NH).


Opposing Republicans/Supporting Obama
Priorities USA Action +
"Bankrupt" (Feb. 22, 2012, MI). +
"Portraits" (June 29, 2011 - TV ad).
"Pages" (May 20, 2011 - TV ad, SC).


Issues
NumbersUSA
Iowa Caucus TV ad (Dec. 2011 - TV ad, IA) +
Iowa Caucus radio ad (Dec. 2011 - radio ad, IA).

National Popular Vote Initiative
"Bingo" (Oct. 13, 2011 - TV ad, IA).
"Class President" (Oct. 13, 2011 - TV ad, IA).
"Marbles" (Oct. 13, 2011 - TV ad, IA).

Susan B. Anthony List
"Pledge Iowa" (Aug. 10-12, 2011 - radio ad, IA).