Dark side of U.S. campaign finance

Super PACs – independent political action committees – can raise and spend unlimited sums of money, including secret donations from individuals, obscure corporations and unions to elect or defeat presidential candidates

PAC: Can give $5,000 to candidate committee per primary election and $5,000 for general election. Can also give $15,000 annually to any national party
committee, and $5,000 annually to any other PAC. All finances regulated by Federal Election Commission

Individual donor: Limit of $2,700 to candidate, up to $5,000 to PAC,
$33,400 to any national party committee

Super PAC: Cannot contribute directly to candidate. Affiliated non-profit
fundraisers do not have to name donors

Campaign funds raised (to Jan 31, 2016)

Hillary Clinton Democrat Raised by candidate $115.6m $47.9m PAC, super PAC, affiliates Total: $163.5m

Jeb Bush Republican $31.9m $123.7m $155.6m

Ted Cruz Republican $47.1m $42.8m $89.9m

Marco Rubio Republican $29.7m $47.5m

Bernie Sanders Democrat $75.0m $75.0m

Ben Carson Republican $54.0m $10.1m $64.1m

Chris Christie Rep. $7.2m $19.5m $26.7m

Carly Fiorina Rep. $11.3m $13.0m  $24.3m 

John Kasich Rep. $7.6m $15.3m $22.9m

Donald Trump  Rep. $19.4m $19.4m

Jim Gilmore  Rep. $200,000 $0.2m

Total raised: (remaining 11 presidential candidates) $718.8m* 

$399.0m 319.8m

Eleven candidates have dropped out having raised $121.5m, of which $81.1m was from PACs, Super PACs or non-profit affiliates

Sources: Federal Election Commission, Opensecrets.org, Realclearpolitics.com

Pictures: Associated Press, Newscom