More dirt on Mitt Romney?

“Federal law limits how much money individuals can give to presidential candidates ‚Äî $2,300 per election. But what about Compuware Inc. founder Peter Karmanos? Last year, he gave $250,000 to presidential aspirant and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Since 2004, 15 other Romney backers have sunk at least $100,000 each into the Republican‚Äôs coffers, sometimes with a series of checks issued on a single day.

Because he doesn’t hold federal office, Romney became subject to the federal rules only after he set up a presidential exploratory committee earlier this month. Until then, his team took advantage of a little-noticed gap between federal and state law. While most states limit political donations, about a dozen don’t. Romney’s political team set up fund-raising committees in three of those: Michigan, Iowa and Alabama. During that time, his political action committees raised $7 million.

As a result, Romney was able to hit the ground running, a big advantage in what has already become a feverish race. A week after announcing his possible bid, having already taken care of basic campaign logistics such as hiring and office space, the former governor held a Boston fund-raiser that netted $6.5 million in pledges. Romney also used the cash to build a broad network of financial backers and grass-roots allies.

Romney‚Äôs financial network is in a long tradition of candidates working around post-Watergate campaign-finance rules. In the 1980s and 1990s, candidates dodged limits by steering big checks to party committees, which in turn paid for television ads and turnout efforts. The 1990s also saw the rise of lawmakers‚Äô ‚Äúleadership‚Äù committees, some of which were set up in a way that allowed them to collect big, unlimited checks. Members of Congress used these accounts to help colleagues and for travel expenses.”

Well, not quite. In fact, not even close.

Although the writer seems to attempt a scandalous tone, Romney didn’t break any laws, nor was there any conflict of interest or even the hint of an ethics question. This article is the reason the MSM has the moniker, “The drive-by media”.

If there is any problem - and I don’t see one - it’s with the Campaign Finance Rules themselves, and in fact with the Campaign Finance Law period. What this also shows is that Romney’s people are on the ball and know how to raise the money needed to go against the likes of Hillary and her dough.

Otherwise nothing to see here.

UPDATE: Called as Seen has other attempts to slay Romney’s run for the WH.