LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - There is $37 million spent this week alone on political advertising, which includes the campaigns and the Super PACs that support them. Nearly half that money is coming from outside groups, like Super PACs. In addition, the majority of the outside money is going to support presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

These outside groups have spent $238 million on the 2012 general-election campaign, with about $9 out of every $10, almost $205 million is going to either support Romney or reelect President Obama.

Outside groups supporting Obama have only spent $33 million, accounting for 14 percent of the total ad spending on the incumbent president's behalf.

Only 25 percent of all the ads that are intended to benefit Romney have come from the former Massachusetts governor's campaign. Outside groups, including super PACs, have made up the difference. In stark contrast, 86 percent of the total advertising effort intended to boost Obama has come from the president's own campaign.

Obama's campaign remains by far the largest-single spender, clocking in at $207 million.

Crossroads is the second-biggest spender at $105 million, $59 million from Crossroads GPS, a 501(c)4, and $46 million from the Super PAC American Crossroads.

The Romney campaign comes in third at just $67 million. Romney and his supporters, with the help of outside groups, are outspending President Obama and his allies by $273 million to $239 million.

"Team Romney" has outspent "Team Obama" this month by nearly 2-to-1. But that margin is up to 2.5-to-1 this week, with Team Romney outspending Team Obama $25.8 million to $11.1 million.

Outside groups previously had to spend just to get Team Romney at the same level as Team Obama.

2012 AD SPENDING
Team Romney: $273 million
Team Obama: $239 million
Total: $512 million

OUTSIDE MONEY
Pro-Romney: $205 million (86 percent of all outside money going to boost Romney)
Pro-Obama: $33 million (14 percent of all outside money going to boost Obama)
Total: $238 million (47 percent of all money spent on ads this general election)

PERCENT FROM OUTSIDE GROUPS
Team Romney: 75 percent (of Team Romney's ads are from outside groups)
Team Obama: 14 percent

Or.

HOW MUCH OF THE ADS SIDING WITH ONE CANDIDATE OR THE OTHER ARE COMING FROM THE CAMPAIGNS?
Romney: 25 percent
Obama: 86 percent

AD SPENDING BY GROUP
Obama campaign $207 million
Romney campaign $67 million
Crossroads $105 million (GPS $59 million, American $46 million)
Americans for Prosperity $42 million
Restore Our Future $29 million
Priorities USA $28 million
RNC $15.5 million
Concerned Women of America $4.8 million
American Future Fund $4.5 million
American Energy Alliance $3.2 million
SEIU $2.5 million
Planned Parenthood $1.5 million
Priorities/LCV $1 million
Move On $144,000
Numbers USA $115,000

Week of 8/13-8/19:
Team Romney $25.8 million
Team Obama $11.1 million
Total: $37 million

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