Big Bucks
Millions for Mitt: Harold Simmons, Robert Rowling among top donors to Romneycampaign
- Mitt Romney has received a great deal of money from Texas supporters in hispresidential run.Mitt Romney/Facebook
- Harold and Annette Simmons have reportedly donated $16.1 million to the Romneycampaign through SuperPac contributions.Photo by Kristina Bowman
- Dallas businessman Robert Rowling, 59, is a big supporter of presidentialcandidate Mitt Romney.Forbes.com
Since the Supreme Court threw out the limits on the amount of money an individual donor can give to outside groups that support a presidential candidate, Texas admirers of Republican candidate Mitt Romney have opened their wallets in record numbers.
According to numbers from the Federal Election Commission, two Dallas businessmen are among the top five Romney supporters in the nation. Harold Simmons, 81, has given $16.1 million, and Robert Rowling, 59, has given at least $4.1 million. Bob Perry, a Houston homebuilder, has reportedly contributed more than $17 million to the Romney campaign.
Simmons has given $16.1 million to the Romney campaign; Rowling, around $4.1 million.
Simmons owns Contran Corp., a conglomerate that specializes in metals and chemical production and waste management.
Rowling's company, TRT Holdings, owns the Omni hotel chain and Gold's Gym, among other properties.
Billionaire Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, 79, led the list by giving $34. 2 million to pro-Romney PACs.
The top Texas donors to President Obama's campaign did not include any Dallas residents, but a few from Houston made the cut.