Palin PAC raises $1.6M in first half of year

Former Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin’s political action committee, Sarah PAC, raised almost $1.6 million in the first six months of this year, it will report in Federal Election Commission filings.

Sarah PAC had slightly more than $1.4 million in the bank at the end of June, after having spent about $1.6 million — about as much as it raised — from January to June.

The first half of this year saw a revamped political operation for Palin. The former vice presidential candidate relaunched Sarah PAC’s website this spring and embarked on a national bus tour sponsored by the PAC. That tour, along with some of Palin's moves in primary states, has stoked speculation that she might run for president.

The money raised by Sarah PAC can’t be put toward a presidential run, but the haul reflects the extent of Palin’s latent support, which could be converted into support for a White House bid.

”We at Sarah PAC are very pleased and grateful for the tremendous support that Governor Palin receives from everywhere across our country,“ said Tim Crawford, the PAC’s treasurer. ”Sarah PAC more than doubled the amount we raised as compared to the same time period in 2009. We received more that 36,700 contributions from over 24,000 contributors.“

Donations averaged less than $50 per person.

Among the PAC’s expenditures were $65,000 in contributions to candidates and an $18,700 donation to the Young America’s Foundation, an organization for young conservatives.

Most of Palin's political contributions came at the end of June, one day before the semi-annual filing deadline.

Thirteen Republican incumbents or candidates received $5,000 each from Palin's PAC. 

Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) both received donations, as did Reps. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.), Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), Ann Marie Buerkle (R-N.Y.), Francisco Canseco (R-Texas), Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), Martha Roby (R-Ala.) and Allen West (R-Fla.).

—Last updated at 4:09 p.m. Updated at 3:44 p.m. to reflect that the Sarah PAC’s filing was for the first six months of this year.

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