Bolstered by strong fund-raising over the last year and a major influx of cash brought Mitt Romney in recent months, the Republican National Committee has spent close to $21 million on attack advertisements against President Obama since the second week in July, according to Federal Election Commission disclosures.
The spending has come out of the committee's “independent expenditure†operation - activities that are paid for by the party but not coordinated with any candidates - making it effectively the third-biggest “super PAC†on the airwaves. Priorities USA Action, the super PAC backing Mr. Obama, has spent about $31 million during the entire election cycle, while the leading super PAC aligned with Mr. Romney, Restore Our Future, has spent about $84 million.
The R.N.C.'s burst of spending was enabled by a strong July, according to party officials: The committee took in $37.7 million last month, its bes t haul ever, and ended with $88.7 million in cash on hand. Its total take for 2012 already exceeds its total 2008 and 2004 fund-raising by more than $20 million, officials said.
“Once again, the R.N.C. has set a monthly fund-raising record, illustrating the tremendous enthusiasm for a new direction in this country,†said Reince Priebus, the chairman of the committee, in a statement. “This money allows us to get our message out to voters across this country on the ground and on the air.â€
A version of this article appeared in print on 08/17/2012, on page A14 of the NewYork edition with the headline: Fund-Raising Report: Strong July for G.O.P..