Yes, that is 2 billion alone on the presidential race. But this money is other peoples money, not taxpayers money that would go to help the poor. yet if these donors gave it to the poor instead of the presidential campaign, the poor would definitely be better off.
In 2008 according to ABC News, BHO spent 750 million to McCain's 368 million. But in a year when the majority of the people were just sick and tired of Republican rule, I don't think that spread made that much of a difference. In other words if each candidate spent only 300 million a piece, the results would have been much the same. If Romney and Obama only spent 300 million each last year, I wouldn't expect the numbers to change much. So I can only conclude that money spent over a certain amount is wasted. The 300 million seems to be close to that ball park figure. In other words, each vote Romney and Obama received, the cost was $20.00 per vote. Compare that to Johnson who received 1.2 million votes while spending around 2 million. Each vote he received cost him only $1.70 each.
Now both candidates received most of their money from Wall Street, corporations, special interests, lobbyist, super pacs, and other organizations wanting something from government. None of these gave any money just as their civic duty, they gave expecting something in return. Favorable legislation, tax breaks, subsidies, some for their cash. In simple English, these people bought our elected officials.