Romney outspending Santorum in WI

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum has been airing some harsh attacks on former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in Wisconsin.

But how many people will see them?

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum bowls at the Pla-Mor Lanes bowling alley April 1 in Chilton, Wis. (Scott Olson - Getty Images)

While super PAC involvement means Romney doesn’t have the overwhelming advantage he enjoyed in some early contests, Santorum has not spent very much in the state.

Romney and his super PAC supporters are spending about 3.5 times as much as Santorum and his supporters. That’s not as dramatic as the 7-to-1 onslaught in Illinois, but it’s still significant.

Santorum has spent only about $200,000 in Wisconsin, according to a Republican media buyer. The bulk of that spending came this week; earlier in the month, he was spending in the tens of thousands.

Red White & Blue Fund, a super PAC supporting Santorum, spent about $660,000.

Romney has spent about $743,000 in Wisconsin; his allies at the super PAC Restore Our Future spent $2.3 million.

By contrast, Santorum’s campaign spend almost $900,000 in Michigan, while the Red White & Blue Fund spend about $1.2 million. The group also invested heavily in the Louisiana primary in late March.

Santorum raised $9 million in February and the campaign also spent heavily — largely on ads.

The social conservative said Monday that there was a chance for him to “sneak in and have an upset” Tuesday night. But recent polls show Romney with a consistent lead of at least seven points.