Money & Politics | Daily Report

Demon Sheep ain't cheap. According to new spending data released by the Federal Election Commission, bizarro campaign ad man Fred Davis – the brains behind the infamous Demon Sheep and Hot Air ads for Carly Fiorina's GOP Senate campaign – has been the big winner so far in the spending bonanza behind the race to unseat Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer.

The Demon Sheep

Davis' firm, Hollywood-based Strategic Perception Inc., raked in more than $312,000 as of late March, entirely from Fiorina's campaign. Boxer's consulting team, Progressive Strategy Partners Inc., wasn't far behind, bringing in about $300,000.

The data, which the FEC released last week, makes it easier then ever to tally up the millions that California's political consultants have raked in by shepherding candidates through the state's increasingly competitive Senate race – nearly $3 million and counting as of late March.

We've posted the information in a searchable database for anyone who wants to wade into the weeds.

The $3 million we've added up in consulting expenses is pretty conservative. It only takes into account expenses described with the words "consultant" or "consulting," so cash shelled out for things like "legal services" aren't part of the total.

Factoring those in, the consulting tab probably comes closer to $4 million – a pittance compared to the cash spent in the "Billionaire Wars" of the state's Republican gubernatorial primary, but not bad considering the strict fundraising limits Senate candidates must adhere to.

By our count, Boxer has spent the most so far this election cycle, at just over $3.2 million. Fiorina has spent $2.5 million – slightly more than fellow Republican Chuck DeVore. Front-runner Tom Campbell, who has been keeping a low profile lately, has spent just $564,000, though some have wondered whether his campaign is running low on cash.