washington/new york backers republican presidential hopeful marco rubio spend nearly much money weeks lead super tuesday nominate contest rival combine include outsized spend texas super pac support u.s. senator florida conservative solutions pour 4.2 million 10 super tuesday state feb. 10 feb. 27 almost twice much group back rival ted cruz accord reuters analysis federal election commission file super pacs support candidates combine include rubio spend 8.8 million state period big chunk money rubio 's ally super pac 1.5 million target u.s. senator cruz 's home state texas big prize among super tuesday state term number delegate grab click graphic tmsnrt.rs/1lr2j0c cruz poise defeat republican front-runner donald trump texas double-digit margin rubio run distant third opinion poll efforts reach official conservative solutions unsuccessful experts say spend could effort prevent cruz reach threshold victory would allow sweep state 155 delegate give delegate allocation rubio keep trump cruz 50 percent district stop get delegate district say university houston political science professor brandon rottinghaus texas republican primary delegate allocate proportionally congressional district texas-based republican strategist joe brettell say strong show rubio state could also help 44-year-old senator justify another run presidency 2020 fail win nomination time rubio emerge republican establishment favor candidate take trump presidential nomination draw flood endorsements donor cash since former florida governor jeb bush drop feb. 20. senator struggle distinguish cruz poll recent nominate contest cruz ally super pac spend 738,000 home state period trump campaign largely self-funded ally super pac review super pac spend include money spend campaign set disclose february spend march 20. super pacs support candidates well outside group try influence voters require notify federal election commission shortly purchase ads super pacs create u.s. supreme court citizens unite decision 2010 raise spend unlimited amount money bar coordinate campaign year shape one expensive elections american history lot money lately spend target trump super pacs support rubio cruz well group work bring trump 7.2 million spend super tuesday state national ad buy attack new york real estate billionaire accord reuters review one ads conservative solutions pac run texas take aim trump university for-profit program launch subject lawsuits unhappy attendees trump call ad take say inaccurate report ginger gibson grant smith edit richard valdmanis jonathan oatis article fund part sap independently create reuters editorial staff sap editorial involvement creation production rubio backers spend big texas ahead super tuesday