Pro-Romney group raises $12M

WASHINGTON — A new "super" political action committee supportive of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has raised more than $12 million, drawing on big-dollar donations to help the former Republican governor in his bid for the White House.

The Restore Our Future super PAC includes $100,000 apiece from corporations like Utah-based Eli Publishing Inc., and wealthy donors like John Paulson, founder of the New York-based Paulson & Co. hedge fund.

Marriott International Inc. CEO J.W. Marriot Jr. gave a half-million dollars to Romney's group, as did Marriot's brother, Richard, the chairman of Host Hotels and Resorts. The CEO of New York hedge fund Moore Capital Management, Louis Moore Bacon, also opened his wallet for $500,000.

The 89 contributions during the first six months of 2011 came from a large swath of the country, from Los Angeles to Boston, Federal Election Commission filings show.

Nearly all of Restore Our Future's donations were greater than $5,000, the maximum allowed for both the primary and general elections had the contributions gone to Romney's official presidential committee. But super PACs like Restore Our Future — an outside group not officially connected with Romney — can receive unlimited funds from individuals and corporations, thanks in part to the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United.

The $12.2 million donated to Restore our Future, founded by former Romney aides, contrasts the $18.4 million raised from April through June by the official committee Romney for President.