35 Romney endorsers received contributions [from Romney's PACs] first [View all]
Money may not be buying Mitt Romney much Republican love, but its going a long way toward helping him buy the next best thing: endorsements in the GOP primaries.
Romneys Free and Strong America PAC and its affiliates have lavished close to $1.3 million in campaign donations to federal, state and local GOP politicians, almost all since 2010. His recipients include officials in the major upcoming primary states of New Hampshire and South Carolina, and in three southern Super Tuesday states where he was trounced four years ago.
In New Hampshire, a U.S. senator, a congressman, 10 state senators and three executive councilors shared $26,000 in donations from Romneys Free and Strong America PAC in 2010 and 2011 combined. All 15 have showered Romney with endorsements leading up to Tuesdays primary
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley came out for Romney last month a year after his Free and Strong America PACs funneled $36,000 to the Tea Party darlings 2010 election bid. And 19 state and Washington, D.C., lawmakers in three Super Tuesday states Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia are backing Romney after his PAC poured a total of $125,500 into their coffers for elections held in 2009 and 2010.
This is as old as politics itself, Edwin Bender, executive director of the National Institute of Money in State Politics. Hes just taking it to a whole new level.
http://www.salon.com/2012/01/07/35_romney_endorsers_received_contributions_first/
Another thing as old as politics itself? Bribery!