MADISON (WKOW) -
President Barack Obama raised more money than the entire 2012 Republican presidential field through Dec. 31,
2011, $582,000 to $529,000, according to an analysis from the Smart Politics blog at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Smart Politics also found
Wisconsin was dead last nationally in per capita donations of $200 or
more to GOP presidential candidates, with Wisconsinites contributing just $93.07
per 1,000 residents to GOP candidates, compared to an average of $1,042
per 1,000 Utah residents, who ranked the highest.
Eric Ostermeier, a research associate who writes
the Smart Politics blog, suggests the relatively low fundraising totals
in Wisconsin reflect a reaction to Republican Gov.
Scott Walker's controversial policies.
"At least at the margins,
there is perhaps some distaste in the mouths of Wisconsinites generally
at the turn the state took, and there is some backlash going on here,"
Ostermeier said.
A spokesman
for the Republican Party of Wisconsin said Badger State residents
currently are more keyed into the recall drama than the presidential
campaign.
"Wisconsin voters are focused on standing with Gov.
Walker and protecting his reform that already has created jobs and
balanced a $3.6 billion budget deficit," spokesman Ben Sparks said.
In
the 2008 presidential campaign, Wisconsin ranked 44th in large
contributions to Republican candidates. For that campaign cycle,
Wisconsinites gave $3 million to Republicans and $5.9 million to
Democratic candidates, $4.9 million of which flowed to President Obama.
