Waiting For Romney's Disclosure

Update: I have just learned from the FEC that yesterday Romney requested and was granted another 45-day extension to file his personal finance disclosure, giving him until August 13th (two days after the Iowa Straw poll!). He is only allowed two extensions, so this time should be for real.

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The Federal Election Commission granted Mitt Romney a 45-day extension to file his personal finances disclosure, and that gives him until the close of business today to file, according to the extension letter sent by the FEC to his campaign.

The disclosure will only provide a wide-ranging estimate of his total wealth, because of the way the form asks for assets to be listed. Romney's people had earlier floated an estimate of $190 million to $250 million, plus another $70m-$100m in his kids' trust funds. That would be much lower than some guesses, but what's a couple hundred million more or less?

Aside from confirming that he's filthy rich -- hardly a surprise -- the disclosure will be the first peek outsiders have into where his assets are, and to me that's always been a very interesting question.

Of course, the Presidential candidates' second-quarter fundraising and expenditure reports will start coming out soon as well. Romney will probably release a money-raised figure over the weekend (and will emphasize the number of donors), but we'll have to wait a couple of weeks for the details -- which will show us how he's spent $30m-plus already.