Obama Campaign Expects to be Outspent By Republicans

President Barack Obama's campaign says it expects the president to become the first incumbent to be outspent by his opponent. They are outlining the potential for $1 billion in spending from Republican-leaning outside groups supporting Mitt Romney.

Campaign officials say they fully expect Romney and a collection of Republican-leaning super PACs to outspend Obama, who broke all fundraising records in 2008.

They briefed Washington reporters only on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal campaign strategy and polling data.

The campaign officials reiterated a frequent theme: Romney's campaign is rooting for the American economy to worsen before the election so that it will hurt Obama's chances of being re-elected.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)