Here’s a brief look at what the five remaining candidates have spent through March 31.
    Hillary Clinton (D) – Her campaign committee has raised $180.1 million.  Outside groups have raised $76.2 million for a combined total of $256.3 million.  Total expenditures on her campaign come to $182.9 million. Cash on hand: $73.5 million.
    Bernie Sanders (D) – His campaign committee has raised $182.1 million and outside groups $604,465 for a combined total of $182.8 million.  Total expenditures  on his campaign come to $165.3 million.  Cash on hand: $17.4 million
    Ted Cruz (R) – His campaign committee has raised $78.5 million and outside groups $63.4 million for a combined total of $141.9 million.  Total expenditures on his campaign come to $112.1 million. Cash on hand:$29.8 million.
    Donald Trump (R) – His campaign committee has raised $48.4 million of which $35.9 million is his own money.  Outside groups have raised $2.8 million for a combined total of $51.2 million.  Total expenditures on his campaign come to $49.5 million.  Cash on hand: $1.7 million.
    John Kasich (R) – His campaign committee has raised $16.5 million with outside groups contributing $12.8 million for a combined totdal of $29.3 million.  Total expenditures on his campaign come to $33.5 million. His  campaign  committee  shows  cash  on hand  of $1.2 millioi.  However, outside groups supporting  him have a debt of about $4.2 million.
    These five candidates combined through March 31 have spent about $661 million.  This is just the tip of the iceberg if the 2012 presidential election is any indication of things to come.
    The Federal Election Commission (FEC) estimated that about $7 billion was spent on the 2012 race for president by all candidates combined..  Candidates spent $3.2 billion, political parties $2 billion, and outside political committees $2.1 billion.
    About $1.1 billion was spent on President Barack Obama’s re-election, while $1.24 billion was spent on Republican challenger Mitt Romney’s campaign. 
    The presidential race in 2012 was the most expensive in history.  Some political pundits are predicting that 2016 could set a new record.

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