Obama, meanwhile, has raised $2.5 million in Ohio, including $292,416 just in June. Nationally, though, Obama has a significant advantage – he’s raised $300 million for his re-election bid compared to Romney’s $153 million.
Ohio remains a heavy donor state, raising $7.7 million for presidential candidates, including those who ran in the Republican primary. But it still lags behind heavy fundraising states such as California, Florida, Texas, Illinois and New York.
The list of Romney donors includes Republicans with close ties to Sen. Rob Portman, who is considered a possible running mate for Romney, such as the Lindner family, Richard Farmer of Cintas and William Cyr, the president and CEO of Sunny Delight Beverages.
Obama’s prominent donors include several members of the Ratner family, which owns Forest City Enterprises.
Romney’s had his most luck with donors in and around Cincinnati — raising well over $1 million there, including $148, 263 from suburban Cincinnati, Hamilton and Middletown.
By comparison, Romney raised $422,190 in the Columbus metropolitan area, $825,539 from Cleveland, and $133,117 in Dayton. He raised $1,810 in Springfield, according to FEC data.
Obama, meanwhile, has fared best in the Cleveland area, raising $817,592 there, compared to $530,620 in Columbus, $606,153, in Cincinnati and $154,231 in Dayton. He raised $16,263 from Springfield.
The candidates aren’t just raising money in Ohio. They’re also spending it, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
Both candidates combined have spent about $1.5 million in Ohio – and that’s not counting all the airtime they’ve purchased on TV — money typically paid to a media buyer who in turn purchases airtime on Ohio stations.
Instead, their campaign money has gone toward payroll, telephone services, rent and, in the case of Romney, $637,027 toward Marquis Jet Partners, a private plane company based out of Columbus.
Obama’s Ohio money, meanwhile, has mostly gone toward salary of his staff — $262,028 as of the end of June. He also spent $10,251 for staging, sound and lighting for an appearance at the Jerome Schottenstein Center at the Ohio State University.
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