[WASHINGTONPOST] The super PAC supporting Jeb Bush is racing through its massive war chest much faster than money is coming in, spending close to $50 million in a record blitz that has so far failed to lift the former Florida governor's sputtering presidential candidacy.
The group, Right to Rise, has already gone through nearly half of the $103 million it brought in during the first half of the year, records show. It raised only about $13 million in the five months that followed, according to a person familiar with the figure.
That leaves the super PAC with about $67 million heading into the first 2016 GOP nominating contests. The sum still surpasses the resources of rival groups, but it is not clear whether Right to Rise's financial might -- viewed earlier this year as Bush's distinct advantage -- will be enough to help separate him from the pack.
The group's muted impact so far represents a confounding reality of this year's unconventional campaign: Money is no longer a clear barometer of success. |