Palin’s PAC pours $87,500 on candidates

Associated Press

JUNEAU, Alaska

Sarah Palin’s political action committee contributed at least $87,500 to candidates she’s endorsed in the last few months, according to a report filed Sunday with the Federal Elections Commission.

But SarahPAC’s financial disclosure also shows Palin spending more than $210,000 on consulting.

Candidates receiving money from Palin for the period covering April 1 to June 30 include former Gov. Terry Branstad, who won last month’s Republican gubernatorial primary in Iowa, and Joe Miller, who’s challenging Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the August GOP primary. Each received $5,000.

Among Palin’s other high-profile endorsements, Republican Carly Fiorina, who’s running for the U.S. Senate from California, received $2,500.

Sharron Angle, who’s challenging U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada, also got $2,500. Nikki Haley, who’s running for governor in South Carolina and for whom Palin personally campaigned, got no money, according to the filings.

Palin entered the reporting period with more than $916,000 on hand. She received more than $865,800 in contributions, and ended the period with more than $1 million on hand, according to the filings.

That leaves her with more than $1 million to help campaigns this year, PAC treasurer Tim Crawford said.

“We’re going to really help a lot of Republican candidates get a chance to win,” he said. “And I’m glad we have the resources there for the governor to use.