Romney laps the GOP field in fundraising

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney raised a total of $6.3 million between his federal and state-based political action committees in 2010, ending the year with $1.4 million cash on hand. 

That’s the largest 2010 total of any rumored Republican presidential hopeful.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s PAC, in comparison, raised $3.5 million during 2010, ending the year with $1.3 million cash on hand. 

Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC closed out the year by raising some $174,000 between Nov. 23 and the end of December. In addition to the federal PAC haul, the former governor’s five state-based political action committees raised another $36,000 over the same period. 

Romney’s year-end report, filed with the Federal Election Commission, also shows transfers totaling $131,160 from his state PACs to his federal account during the last several weeks of 2010. 

While Romney’s year-long totals outpace other potential GOP contenders, Palin did outraise Romney between Nov. 23 and Dec. 31, pulling in more than $275,000 and ending the year with $1.3 million cash on hand. Between his federal and state PACs, Romney raised just over $210,000 during the same period. 

Former Sen. Rick Santorum’s (R-Pa.) America’s Foundation PAC also had a strong end to the year, raising $194,000 between Nov. 23 and Dec. 31. That total places him third behind only Palin and Romney during the same period. 

Romney contributed more than $1.1 million to some 500 conservative candidates and causes during 2010, far exceeding the contribution totals of other rumored GOP presidential hopefuls. 

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s PAC totals lag behind both Romney and Palin. Huckabee’s PAC raised just shy of $35,000 to close out the year, ending 2010 with $137,660 cash on hand. In all, Huckabee raised $979,000 in 2010.

As for the rest of the rumored Republican field, Sen. John Thune’s (R-S.D.) Heartland Values PAC had a solid end to the year, pulling in some $69,000 over the last several weeks, ending 2010 with $182,230 cash on hand.

Thune’s PAC total for the period tops that of former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Pawlenty’s PAC raised $48,000 over the same period, while Gingrich’s American Solutions PAC raised just over $31,000, ending the year with $64,000 on hand.

Pawlenty’s PAC ended the year with $154,000 cash on hand, while raking in a total of $2 million in 2010.

-Updated at 4:21 p.m.