Election: Who got the most money?

Now that most of the political buzz and hoopla around the 2012 elections has passed, voters are left wondering just how much candidates received in campaign contributions and spent in all those ads, signs, mailings and more.

No campaign's spending can rival that of the two presidential candidates: As of Oct. 17, incumbent Democrat Barack Obama had raised $934 million and spent almost $853 million, according to The New York Times "Election 2012" report.

The paper found that Republican opponent Mitt Romney had raised almost $882 million and spent more than $752 million by that same date.

However, the money raised and spent by Ohio's two U.S. Senate candidates, incumbent Sherrod Brown (D) and opponent state treasurer Josh Mandel (R), provided plenty to buzz about too.

For Brown, individual contributions totaled $15,580,877, while political action committees had contributed nearly $1,994,000, as of Oct. 17.

Disbursements from Brown's campaign fund at that time were just under $16,868,000.

In the same time frame, Mandel's campaign had individual contributions totaling $12,454,596 and political action committee contributions of nearly $977,000.

Mandel's campaign coffers saw expenditures in excess of $12,874,000 as of Oct. 17.

Figures for the campaign for U.S. Congress 6th district, waged between Republican incumbent Bill Johnson and Democrat Charlie Wilson showed that Johnson had campaign receipts of $1,880,448, as of Oct. 17.

In Johnson's campaign at that time, individual contributions were just over $932,000 and political action committee's contributions were just under $881,000.

Disbursements from Johnson's campaign chest at that date were almost $1,653,000.

For Charlie Wilson, total receipts as of Oct. 17 were $1,257,525, with individual contributions totaling $340,705 and political action committees kicking in $408,441.

Wilson's campaign had just over $1,207,000 in disbursements as of Oct. 17.

Wilson's biggest expenditures were for paid communications, according to campaign manager J.R. Starrett.

"Television commercials are what costs the most in any campaign," Starrett said.

In Wilson's bid to become U.S. Congressman, 6th district, "We spent nearly every dime we had," said Starrett.

According to Starrett, Wilson's campaign team will probably know what monies are left in his campaign fund around the beginning of 2013, after remaining campaign expenses are paid.

Money remaining in Wilson's campaign coffers will either be refunded to contributors on an averaged basis or be contributed to a local charity, Starrett added.

In the race for Ohio state representative 94th district, Democratic incumbent Debbie Phillips had $254,712.89 in campaign contributions from Jan. 1, 2011 to Nov. 6, 2012.

In the same time frame, Phillips' opponent Republican Charles Richter had received $3,553.06 for his campaign.

After the election, "There's no remaining money," Richter said.

"I funded the campaign over $16,000. The campaign is in debt to me," he added.

Richter said his campaign spent about $1,000 on signs, $500 on T-shirts, plus the cost of bumper stickers, mileage and travel expenses.

In the 95th district, Republican incumbent Andy Thompson received $388,821.07 in campaign contributions from Jan. 1, 2011 to Nov. 6, 2012.

During that time, his opponent Democrat Charlie Daniels had $265,983.58 added to his campaign coffers.

According to Thompson, "So much of what we raise is provided to the Republican caucus in Columbus for other caucus activities and party building."

He said some of the money remaining in his coffers will be used for expenses like mileage.

During the campaign, the "bulk" of Thompson's expenditures were for print, radio and television ads and mailers, he added.

In the race between Democratic incumbent Lou Gentile and Republican opponent Shane Thompson, Gentile's contributions totaled $786,237.59 from Jan. 1, 2009 to Nov. 6, 2012.

In the same time frame, Shane Thompson received $532,091.84 in campaign contributions.

"We were forced to spend into the ground," Gentile said. "There won't be much money, if any, left over in our account."

The majority of spending in Gentile's campaign was used for paid media, including television and radio ads, and direct mail.

Shane Thompson said he is not sure if he will have "the desire to take another swing at" running for Ohio State senator in the next election.

His remaining campaign monies will be kept in his election committee if he decides to run again. If not, "My intent is to look at what money I have to put it towards some kind of charitable endeavor," he said.