Palin super-PAC donates $5,000 to Romney campaign

Sarah Palin's political action committee made a $5,000 Halloween-day donation to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, a symbolic and financial gesture of support from the former Republican vice presidential candidate.

The donation, first reported by The Washington Post, was disclosed in a new filing with the Federal Election Committee.

Palin has not always been a vocal supporter of Romney, publicly announcing that she had voted for Newt Gingrich in Alaska's Republican presidential caucus.

"I have appreciated what he has stood for, stood boldly for," she said of Gingrich in an interview with CNN. "He has been the underdog in many of these primary races and these caucuses and I've respected what he has stood for."

Palin was also less than vocal in her support for Romney in the early months of the campaign, although ultimately issued an endorsement on Facebook after the selection of Paul Ryan as Romney's running mate.

"Our country cannot afford four more years of Barack Obama’s fundamentally flawed vision," Palin said. "We must now look to this new team, the Romney/Ryan ticket, to provide an alternate vision of an America that is fiscally responsible, strong, and prosperous – an America that understands and is proud of her exceptional place in the world and will respect those who fight to secure that exceptionalism, which includes keeping our promises to our veterans."

Despite fading from the national spotlight, Palin has remained a substantial fundraiser through her political action committee. In the third quarter of 2012, Sarah PAC raised more than $843,000, and spent $774,000 on mailings and donations. Other recipients of Sarah PAC donations include Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Texas U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz.

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