Fredreka Schouten for USA Today:

Money from wealthy political patrons is gushing into the 2016 presidential contest, racing past the fundraising of Republican candidates themselves as donors seek new ways to influence who wins the party’s nomination.

One example: Allies of two GOP contenders from Texas — Sen. Ted Cruz and former Texas governor Rick Perry — have created multiple super PACs, aimed at giving donors more say in how their money is spent.

Cruz benefits from four closely connected outside groups that in a single week raised three times the amount the first-term senator collected over three months.

Perry is supported by three super PACs, dubbed Opportunity and Freedom PAC, Opportunity and Freedom I and Opportunity and Freedom II.