Politics | Election 2012 It Was Indeed a $2B Election Obama outspent Romney in final days By Kate Seamons Posted Dec 7, 2012 6:32 AM CST Copied In this Oct. 16, 2012 file photo, President Barack Obama, right, and Mitt Romney exchange views during the second presidential debate. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) The country's first $2 billion election is in the books. The fundraising reports have been filed with the Federal Election Commission, and here's the tally: Obama with $1.123 billion, to Romney's $1.019 billion. Politico and the AP break down the numbers: There was a rash of giving at the last minute: About a fifth of what the pro-Obama Priorities USA Action raised came during the last weeks of the campaign. It spent about $21 million after Oct. 16, which Politico calls "remarkable, considering Priorities USA Action began the year destitute." Obama actually ended up outspending Romney in the campaign's final days, spending $176.4 million between Oct. 18 and Election Day. That's $71 million more than his rival spent. (And if you've ever thought "man, that money could have been spent on something more useful," Politico puts it in perspective: The president's 11th-hour spending could run all government operations for Dayton, Ohio, for more than a year.) Sheldon Adelson gave right up to "the bitter end," depositing $10 million into the coffers of pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future on Oct. 19. He also handed Karl Rove's American Crossroads $23 million as the campaign neared the finish. There won't be an Election 2016 for Obama, but he's likely not done fundraising: As of Nov. 26, there was $5.4 million left in his campaign account, but $7.22 million in debt. Read These Next Her blood isn't compatible with anyone else's. Rubio says the fate of Iran's conversion facility is what matters. Some of the most explosive Diddy allegations are dropped. Iran's supreme leader makes first public comments since ceasefire. Report an error