Trump spent $9M in February, campaign chief got pay raise

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump's campaign paid out more than $9 million in February, spending big on political advertising, direct mail and airfare booked mostly through his own airline, according to an Associated Press review of the New York businessman's latest federal election filings.

During a month in which the New York businessman won key Republican contests in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, Trump's campaign spent about $3.5 million on political advertising and an additional $1.1 million on printing, design and direct marketing.

The campaign spent about $710,000 on air travel, the majority of which — about $640,000 — went to Trump's airline, TAG Air Inc. Trump also paid $16,000 to reimburse a company owned by gas station and casino magnate Phil Ruffin for air travel; the two men are friends who have partnered on past business deals.

The same month, federal filings show the company was also paid for list rentals by Our Principles PAC, one of the main anti-Trump groups airing millions of dollars in political advertising attacking him.

Targeted Victory co-founder Michael Beach said the relatively small-dollar payments from opposing Republican groups, like Trump and Our Principles PAC, aren't unusual for the company, which allows many conservative candidates and groups to purchase access to its digital fundraising products.