Presidential Polls: Romney Still Leads Obama in Fundraising, But These 10 Bundlers Hope to Change That

The 2012 election is poised to be the most expensive in American history. Barack Obama would likely be the first sitting president that would get outraised by his opponent in a presidential election. 

One of the main ways that modern campaigns raise money is through bundlers, who raise money from “friends and business associates.” The law does not require campaigns to disclose the names of their bundlers.  However, unlike Mitt Romney, Obama has voluntarily revealed the identity of those who bundle for his campaign. 

Here are Obama’s top ten bundlers according to the New York Times.

1) Andrew Tobias, a writer from Miami, has raised $4,080,220 between 2011 and 2012.

2) Azita Raji, a retired Californian, has raised $3,151,647 between 2011 and 2012.

3) Michael Kempner, a New Jersey resident, is the chief executive of MWW Group.  He has collected $3,096,882 between 2011 and 2012.

4) Anna Wintour, who resides in New York, is the editor-in-chief of Vogue. She has collected $2,682,001 between 2011 and 2012.

5) Jane Stetson, the national finance chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, resides in Vermont. She has collected $2,433,975 between 2011 and 2012.

6) Michael Smith, a Californian, is the founder of Michael Smith Interior Design.  He has raised $2,381,100 between 2011 and 2012.

7) Denise Bauer, a homemaker from California, has raised $2,360,300 between 2011 and 2012.

8) Frank White Jr. is an executive from Washington, and has collected $2,343,649 between 2011 and 2012.

9) Matthew Barzun is the national finance chairman of Obama for America.  He resides in Louisville and raised $2,312,509 between 2011 and 2012.

10) Steve and Allison Spinner are two self-employed Californians who collected $2,274,175 between 2011 and 2012.

Romney has outraised the president in May, June and July. Although Obama finally broke that losing streak in August, he continues to be trailing in the money race. 

Because of his refusal to reveal his top fundraisers, no one knows who is pouring money into the Romney campaign.