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Big winnings off losing campaigns

BY LUKE ROSIAK FOR THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The men behind Americans for Herman Cain, Scott Mackenzie and Jordan Gehrke, have a track record of raising large amounts for disorganized campaigns via a direct mail company called Base Connect and related entities. Mr. Mackenzie also oversees finances for a spattering of generically-named political committees which raise money from donors and funnel it to candidates who are also clients of Base Connect, which in turn pay the company.

This matrix shows the monetary relationships between the multitude of entities associated with the men. The vertical axis shows payments made by candidates and committees, including some controlled by the principals, to companies they own. The left-to-right axis shows that those PACs appear to exist largely to contribute to or run ads for those same candidates, resulting in the transfers of millions of dollars within the "Base Connect universe." One candidate, the last row shows, even donated excess campaign funds to fellow Base Connect candidates.

Base ConnectCentury Data Mailing ServiceGEHRKE, JORDANLegacy ListsMackenzie, ScottAllen West for CongressAnna C Little for CongressAntoine MembersBill Spadea for CongressBrian Chavez- O'ChoaBuck for ColoradoCmte to ReElect Trent Franks to CongressDeon Long for CongressFriends of Les PhillipFriends of Sharron AngleGarrett for CongressGoode for CongressHayes for CongressHoneycutt for Congress 2010Jane Corwin for Congress CmteJay Riemersma for Congress Campaign CmteJim Ryun for CongressJoseph Cao for CongressKY-04 Congressional Victory CmteLeopold for CongressMcCain for Senate '04Pallone for CongressPeg Luksik for SenateRaczkowski for SenateRaese for Senate CmteRoberts for CongressRyan Frazier for ColoradoSand for Senate 2000Tim Scott for CongressWalberg for CongressWilliam Russell for Congress
American Conservative Union Strikeforce65551827214133591451481000010030.8200029208.023700500010000480090009964
Black Republican PAC5676116888221275821625011000100050005000100030001000145005500
Freedom's Defense Fund1308088134349819264320701050018912.2100005500200050001000500035002500050007493250075005300010000250023500500246300.86
Hispanics for a Conservative America1885831634500
MAN IN THE ARENA 12349246837501280
Madison Project1318253441517295214220
Republican National Cmte Member Sen Fund116466118188350100010001863620001305519500750015005000
Save New York PAC300627564052493691572125001150025005000
Veterans for Victory1132037947556151161111951000030005000250020002500390015002950030006000
Ada M Fisher for Congress403728528
Alexandria Coronado for US Congress105595118956026
Allen West for Congress673492678273127939
Antoine Members59376219987189301500
BATEMAN FOR CONGRESS2546
BERNIER FOR CONGRESS11243
Bill Spadea for Congress15002000
Brian Chavez- O'Choa3912838355388
Cmte to Elect Catherine Davis389217130
Cmte to ReElect Trent Franks to Congress2615101080469062
DR DAN 4 CONGRESS 201221998
Deon Long for Congress40790
FRIENDS OF SHARRON ANGLE26039442718670
Friends of Les Phillip36873993123
Friends of Sharron Angle2302025443785000
Garrett for Congress15073884
Goode for Congress750386516
Hayes for Congress1140378188867297
Honeycutt for Congress 2010854634889557378596128932
Jay Riemersma for Congress Campaign Cmte122313152674
Jim Ryun for Congress742041420467874
Joseph Cao for Congress400604
KY-04 Congressional Victory Cmte2583494709824686
Laurence S D'Amboise12784
McCain for Senate '046225
Morse for Congress 2004142580270989191
Peg Luksik for Senate4279736398030865
Raczkowski for Senate319606352967387718500
Roberts for Congress62023827914180
Sand for Senate 20002520689030871215684626523160
Thorpe for Congress1158717512056424205
Walberg for Congress48902
William Russell for Congress3077671110808432904084247200020002000400040006000

Many of the candidates mounted only nominal campaigns, did not appear on the ballot or faced a nearly unbeatable incumbent.