Palin PAC raises $1.4 million in six months

Sarah PAC, the political action committee of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, collected $1.4 million over the final six months of 2009, a solid — if not spectacular — total that demonstrates her fundraising capacity as she mulls a bid for national office in 2012.

"We are thrilled," said Palin senior adviser Meg Stapleton about the fundraising total. "Common-sense Americans know the direction we need to take this country and that Sarah Palin will be instrumental in taking us there this year."

For the year, Palin raised roughly $2.1 million through Sarah PAC and ended the year with $900,000 in the bank. She donated $64,600 to candidates and party committees.

That relatively high burn rate is due to an expansion of the organization's staff, according to those familiar with its operations.

While Palin's six-month total is roughly comparable to the $1.3 million that Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn., raised in just the final three months of the year through his Freedom First PAC, and about $800,000 less than former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., raised with his Free and Strong America PAC in 2009, her aides suggested she did very little active fundraising.

Sarah PAC sent no direct mail — a potential treasure trove of small-dollar donations for the former governor who is beloved by the grassroots of the party — and raised the majority of her money via the Internet and small events. For the 11 months that Sarah PAC has existed, she has received contributions from more than 14,000 donors.

Her aides also note that she spent much of the second half of the year writing her memoir, Going Rogue, and touring the country in support of it.

"We are excited as we feel that we've just begun to tap the governor's support," said Sarah PAC treasurer Tim Crawford.