MSNBC’s First Read has helpfully provided an update on TV advertising expenditures so far in the 2012 presidential election (although it’s awfully secretive about the source of its numbers):

Among the GOP presidential candidates:
— Perry $2.8 million (including the campaign’s national FOX buy)
— Paul $2.1 million
— Romney $134,000
— Cain $78,900

Among the Super PACs:
— Our Destiny PAC (pro-Huntsman Super PAC): $1.4 million
— Make Us Great Again (pro-Perry PAC): $775,000

And among the national political parties:
— DNC $6.8 million

Conspicuously absent from that breakdown is adpenditures by Karl Rove’s PuppetPACs American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, which the hardworking staff estimates have spent roughly $20 million whacking Barack Obama and a variety of Democratic lawmakers.

Just priming the pump, folks. Just priming the pump.