we’ll never know the actual figures from their side. the best estimates i’ve seen are upwards of 100 million total—for all the recalls and including payment for so called “grass roots” union boots on the ground, the dem governors, union pacs payed from union dues, etc. if we spent 60 million then we held at about 2 (for them) to 1.
then start adding in the damages for thuggery, opportunity cost for fighting an illegitimate recall, lost public sector union work days and on and on. heck, given the culture and media we are already at a 2 to 1 handicap.
look, we conservatives are always going to be “outspent” from all statist sources by the entrenched power in the R and D parties. we just have to make it competitive as we did in wisconsin.
we have to keep it in the ball park, say within 1 order of magnitude, i.e., under 10 to 1. our message will have a chance to carry the day. and then more importantly, we need more leaders like mr. walker who will stand and deliver. leaders like him are multipliers. that means we have to keep purging the cinos and rinos. in this case it looks like for once that we didn’t have to fight the R’s too, and that’s a rare blessing.
Whatever the amount they spent, any persuasion done by their side occurred prior to the actual campaign, as almost all of their eventual voters, at least 3/4, were already energized enough to sign the recall petition back in January. Maybe the Republicans figure it is to their advantage to allow a myth of the relative prowess of their fund-raising to persist.