After news broke in October that the Republican National Committee had spent some $150,000 on clothes and accessories for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the former GOP vice presidential nominee claimed in early November that she had gone back to wearing her own clothes,

It turns out that in the weeks leading up to her announcement, Palin’s family continued to receive tens of thousands of dollars in clothes, accessories, toys and spa treatments, Politico reports. Palin, who billed Alaska for her children’s travel to state events they were not invited to, has always seemed to have trouble keeping her professional and family life separate.

The additional $30,000 in spending came just before Election Day, a time when campaigns typically make a last-minute push on advertising,  direct mailings and ground-game operations. Today, there are probably some irritated GOP operatives, particularly in states like North Carolina where President-elect Barack Obama won by less than one percent of the vote.

Would $30,000 have been better spent getting out a few more Republican voters?