Posted by CNN Political Unit
Posted on December 21, 2011

Rick Perry is winning the ad spending wars, beating all other Republican presidential candidates in advertising dollars spent so far ahead of the 2012 elections.

Between January 2, 2011 and December 18, 2011 Perry's campaign spent $1.648 million to air ads on national cable and in Iowa, Nebraska and New Hampshire, according to Campaign Media Analysis Group that tracks ad spending. The political action committee supporting the Texas governor spent an additional $1.023 million on spots in Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina, Nebraska and South Carolina.

Fellow candidate Rep. Ron Paul of Texas drew on his money bomb efforts and extensive fundraising to put over $1.1 million into commercials in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, the first three states to vote on the road to the White House, as well as in Nevada and on national cable.

Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, put less money toward ads in his second bid for the White House, with almost $550,000 spent in Iowa and New Hampshire. "Restore our Future," the super PAC supporting him has thus far put a little over $500,000 into ads backing his run.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich spent $124,140 on spots in Iowa and Minnesota, while Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota spent $57,960 in Iowa, the first-in-the-nation caucus state, where she has focused much of her early energy.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who both sit at the bottom of national and state-wide polls, have not spent any money on ads during this cycle. However, "Our Destiny PAC," which is supportive of Huntsman, spent $683,680 on spots in New Hampshire and neighboring Maine and Massachusetts. The former U.S. ambassador to China has made New Hampshire the focal point of his presidential bid.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty spent $189,900 on ads before he dropped out of the race in August following a disappointing finish at the Iowa Straw Poll. A political action committee associated with Herman Cain, another failed candidate, spent $6,220 before he bowed out of the 2012 contest.

View the original CNN Political Ticker Blog Post here.