Palin Backs Romney With a $5,000 Check

By Brody Mullins

Associated Press

Sarah Palin is seen on a T-shirt as Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns in Pueblo, Colo., Sept. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

If money talks, then Sarah Palin has finally endorsed Mitt Romney.

Newly released campaign-finance reports show that Ms. Palins political fund donated $5,000 to Mr. Romneys presidential campaign Wednesday.

Ms. Palin is normally known for her splashy endorsements, but the donation from SarahPAC was made without fanfare: It was buried amid hundreds of pages of donations disclosed on Form 6 of Mr. Romneys Filing FEC-831889 made public Friday.

Ms. Palin, a former Alaska governor who was the GOP vice presidential nominee in 2008, declined to make an endorsement during the presidential primary, choosing instead to continue speculation that she might throw her hat into the ring at any moment. When Mr. Romney all but sewed up the Republican nomination, Ms. Palin continued to withhold her endorsement.

Interestingly, after Mr. Romney tapped Rep. Paul Ryan to be his running mate, Ms. Palin posted a statement on her Facebook page praising Mr. Ryan and bashing President Barack Obama. Some people viewed that statement as an endorsement of Mr. Romney, though she didnt use the word endorse in the 1,175-word statement, which focused mostly on the president.

Ms. Palins PAC has collec! ted $4.7 million in the 2012 election cycle, according to its most recent filing with the FEC. But the filings show the PAC hasnt made a large number of donations. It donated $80,000 to Republican candidates for Congress this election. That represents about 1.7% of the money she has raised.

Meantime, SarahPAC has spent $1.3 million on administrative expenses, $700,000 on fundraising costs and $380,000 on political consultants, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. For the year, its running a deficit of about $200,000.