HUFFPOST FUNDRACE -- Making It Rain

By Paul Blumenthal

The decision by President Barack Obama to come out in favor of gay marriage is bringing in donations like wildfire. The Washington Post reports, "The Obama campaign is enjoying a massive surge of contributions in the wake of his gay marriage announcement, suggesting the issue could serve as a powerful fundraising tool in the months ahead, according to campaign bundlers and donors. Fundraisers say the donations began pouring in within minutes of the news Wednesday that Obama, who had been "evolving on the issue" for months, would affirm his support for the right of gay couples to be married. ...'Here I thought the LGBT community was already knocking it out of the ballpark for Obama, and now I see they've expanded the ballpark,' said Andrew Tobias, a longtime gay rights activist and treasurer of the Democratic National Committee. 'And many of my straight donors are energized as well. People are excited up and down the line.'"

The surge in fundraising happens to fall on the same day that the president is hosting his big fundraiser with George Clooney in California. The event is expected to pull in $6 million from guests and up to or more than $9 million from small donors who entered into a contest to win a seat at the event by giving at least $3 to the campaign. The president is also hosting two fundraisers in Seattle today.

Today will certainly be one of the biggest fundraising days in the history of presidential campaigns, but the Clooney event won't be the biggest fundraising event ever. According to Bloomberg, that honor goes to a Democratic National Committee event in May 2000 that featured Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Robin Williams, Stevie Wonder, and Lenny Kravitz. The DNC raised $26.5 million at the event thanks to the ability to raise soft money -- unlimited contributions from any source -- prior to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reforms. An event held by the Republican National Committee and George W. Bush in April 2000 netted $21.3 million.

Next up on the Obama contest circuit: a fundraising event featuring Bill Clinton.

Spending by independent groups surged in congressional races in April. The rise in spending came in large part due to the heavily contested Republican Senate race in Indiana, but there were other effects beyond that as well. HuffPost reports: "These groups, the unlimited-money super PACs and nonprofits, spent $7.87 million on congressional races in April, a rise of more than 500 percent from the $1.9 million spent in March, according to a review of Federal Election Commission records. Congressional races also accounted for two-thirds of the $11.9 million spent by independent groups in April, far greater than the 12 percent in March. Spending on the congressional level by these groups is expected to remain high in May and through the year once the general election races begin. ...Spending for congressional races surged in April because of the involvement of conservative groups in Republican primaries, a contested special election to replace retired Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the emergence of congressional-candidate-specific super PACs."

Mother Jones' Andy Kroll runs down the many reasons why the Obama super PAC, Priorities USA Action, isn't doing so hot.

Open Secrets counts down til super PAC spending hits $100 million in the 2012 cycle with this cool graphic.

Reuters delves into the shady expenditures of super PACs.

AD WATCH

Help us populate our list of campaign videos. Send any notable TV, radio or web ads that you see to Fundrace. Send your submissions to paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.

Committee: Barack Obama for President
Spot: "Brian from Ohio"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Barack Obama for President
Spot: "Reverse"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Barack Obama for President
Spot: "Succeed"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: American Future Fund
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Better Off"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Majority PAC
Candidate Opposed: Josh Mandel
Spot: "Running Man"
Market: Ohio.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Sherrod Brown for Senate
Candidate Opposed: Josh Mandel
Spot: "Meetings"
Market: Ohio.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Don Stenberg for Senate
Spot: "Hard Work"
Market: Nebraska.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Massachusetts Republican Party
Candidate Opposed: Elizabeth Warren
Spot: "Fraudster"
Market: Massachusetts.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: US Chamber of Commerce
Candidate Opposed: Bill Owens
Spot: "Congressman Bill Owens supports higher taxes, more job-killing regulations, and Obamacare"
Market: New York's 21st District.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: US Chamber of Commerce
Candidate Supported: Nan Hayworth
Spot: "Dr. Nan Hayworth is about making our country more competitive through reduced government spending"
Market: New York's 18th District.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: US Chamber of Commerce
Candidate Opposed: Kathy Hochul
Spot: "Instead of voting for free enterprise, Kathy Hochul supported Obamacare"
Market: New York's 27th District.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: US Chamber of Commerce
Candidate Supported: Chris Gibson
Spot: "Chris Gibson - Fighting For Small Business"
Market: New York's 19th District.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: US Chamber of Commerce
Candidate Supported: Ann Marie Buerkle
Spot: "Ann Marie Buerkle, NY-24"
Market: New York's 24th District.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: House Majority PAC
Candidate Opposed: Jesse Kelly
Spot: "Screens"
Market: Arizona's 8th District.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Tom Barrett for Governor
Candidate Opposed: Scott Walker
Spot: "Worst"
Market: Wisconsin.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Tom Barrett for Governor
Candidate Opposed: Scott Walker
Spot: "How To Rip Apart Wisconsin -- By Scott Walker"
Market: Wisconsin.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Americans for Prosperity
Policy Opposed: Export-Import Bank
Spot: "Veto Corporate Welfare"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.

TRACKING INDEPENDENT SPENDING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE:

These numbers represent spending by independent groups, like super PACs and non-profits, to support or oppose a particular candidate for the presidency in 2012. Fundrace will update this spending daily to help show which candidates are gaining from the proliferation of independent groups in this coming election.

Newt Gingrich (R), $13,017,772 to support, $18,885,161 to oppose.
Rick Santorum (R), $7,548,235 to support, $20,923,379 to oppose.
Mitt Romney (R), $5,361,828 to support, $8,676,753 to oppose.
Rick Perry (R), $4,167,697 to support, $1,404 to oppose.
Ron Paul (R), $3,748,218 to support, $214,158 to oppose.
Jon Huntsman (R), $2,453,204 to support, $0 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $298,856 to support, $1,220,956 to oppose. (+$45,805)
Herman Cain (R), $501,717 to support, $954 to oppose.
Gary Johnson (R), $518 to support, $0 to oppose.

RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES

Campaign to Defeat Barck Obama, $4,054 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Club for Growth PAC, $2,176 to support Thomas Massie for Congress in Kentucky's 4th District.
AmeriGOP, $11,784 to oppose Gary Moore for Congress in Kentucky's 4th District.
AmeriGOP, $11,784 to oppose Alecia Dawn Webb-Edgington for Congress in Kentucky's 4th District.
AmeriGOP, $2,898 to support Thomas Massie for Congress in Kentucky's 4th District.
Restore America's Voice, $10,000 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
FreedomWorks for America, $159 to support Richard Mourdock for Senate in Indiana.
FreedomWorks for America, $1,212 to oppose Dick Lugar for Senate in Indiana.
Freedom Plains Action Network, $9,086 to support Jon Bruning for Senate in Nebraska.
Restore America's Voice, $35,805 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Committee to Elect An Effective Valley Congressman, $95,855 to support Howard Berman for Congress in California's 30th District.
MoveOn.org Political Action, $11,474 to oppose Mitt Romney for President.
American Crossroads, $7,500 to support Mitt Romney for President.
American Crossroads, $7,500 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Liberty for All Super PAC, $542,600 to support Thomas Massie for Congress in Kentucky's 4th District.

RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS

Liberty USA PAC, Washington, D.C., Treasurer: Dan Backer.
Fightin' Ninth PAC, Richmond, Va., Treasurer: John G. Selph. (Leadership PAC: Rep. Morgan Griffith)
The TeaParty.Net Leadership Fund, Mesa, Ariz., Treasurer: Ron Dove.
Symbion Good Government Fund, Nashville, Tenn., Treasurer: Adam Gleaves.

Send tips, hints, submissions, rumors to HuffPost Fundrace at paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.