The Price of Campaigning -- Consultants, Ads Cost Mega Millions

From The Washington Post:

With a significant assist from his own bank account, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney spent $24.5 million on the services of a media consulting firm last year in a bid to seize victories in January's Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.

By the end of 2007, with the Iowa caucuses just days away, Clinton and Obama had each spent in excess of $80 million, more than double the record-shattering $37 million spending spree in 1999 that helped George W. Bush secure the Republican nomination.

The increased spending extends not only to consultants, but to television spots, massive field staffs and travel. At one point, Obama had more than 650 paid organizers, most of them in Iowa.