Romney is among the GOP presidential hopefuls doling out cash to candidates in 2010. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
It's never too early to line up support for a presidential run, so it's not surprising that several possible 2012 Republican contenders are using their political action committees to dole out large amounts of cash to an array of GOP members and candidates this cycle. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's PAC gave $87,500 to federal and state candidates last year.
Jim DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund reported more than $1.3 million in receipts in 2009. What that figure doesn't show is how the PAC is also gathering clout as a brand name in conservative circles.
GOP Reps. Todd Tiahrt and Jerry Moran will vie for Kansas' open Senate seat in an Aug. 3 primary; it could come down to Moran's campaign bank account vs. Tiahrt's appeal to grass-roots conservatives.
