Buying the White House

Barack Obama's fundraising machine led an epic campaign season in which presidential candidates spent a whopping $1.7 billion, by far the most expensive election cycle ever and more than double the amount spent just four years ago. Of that number, $740.6 million came from Obama versus just $222.7 million from McCain. Despite only competing in the primaries, Hillary topped McCain by spending $250 million. Mitt Romney also boosted the totals by loaning his failed campaign $44.6 million of his own money.