Obama spent $1.7 billion in 2008: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aerix76GvmRM http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a..

Obama spent $1.7 billion in 2008: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aerix76GvmRM http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a... I think $1B is enough to tip the scales for the right candidate, but if everyone knew one candidate was being propped up by a billionaire it would immediately backfire.