The cost of the 2012 election will top a record $6 billion, according to the Center for Responsive Politics . If you find it difficult to visualize that figure, here are a few other ways to think about what $6 billion could buy:

-- 30 million iPhone 5s ;
-- 3,000 New York City subway cars ;
-- 200 F-15 fighter jets ;
-- 981 public elementary schools ;
-- 15,503 Lamborghini Aventadors ;
-- 451 small hospitals ;
-- 545,454 1-carat Tiffany diamond engagement rings ;
-- 18 million iPad minis ;
-- 1 year of lunches for 11 million public school students ;
-- 4 Burj Khalifa skyscrapers (the world's tallest building).

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