Independent Expenditures Report

Sunlight Foundation Blog: "National Republican Congressional Committee ($13,979,025) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ($10,370,412) disclosed spending the most money on directly attempting to elect or defeat federal candidates (called independent expenditures) as of this morning. Labor union SEIU and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are next, with American Crossroads, a section 527 organization that top Republican political strategist Karl Rove advises, placing fifth. National Republican Senatorial Committee places tenth ($2,749,953) — significantly less than AFSCME, American Future Fund, the 60 Plus Association and Americans for Job Security. U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent the most on issue ads that mention federal candidates (called electioneering communications) with $8,838,680, followed by American Future Fund ($1,548,778)."

Washington Post vs. Americans for Prosperity

Washington Post on Americans for Prosperity: Think it's a coincidence that the "issue advertising" is running, and naming names, in districts of vulnerable Democratic incumbents? Consider this attack on Washington Democrat Denny Heck -- who isn't even in office -- for "putting Nancy Pelosi's agenda ahead of our needs" and being "a 30-year political insider." The $180,000 ad campaign started running the day after Mr. Heck won the Democratic primary. In a district with an open House seat in Michigan, the group is estimated to have spent almost $350,000 attacking Democratic nominee Gary McDowell.


Americans for Prosperity Letter: All of AFP's citizen-education efforts -- including our television advertising -- have been bona fide issue advocacy designed to advance our mission of promoting limited government fiscal and economic policies, lower taxes, less spending and less onerous regulation. Because we engage in no electioneering, we have done nothing after the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision that we were not already doing before.

Weekly Wrap-Up -- State of Elections

From State of Elections.com:

Fox News wants to make sure their viewers know they don’t endorse Democrats. The network has sued Democratic Senate candidate Robin Carnahan for copyright violations based on a campaign ad.

Dreaming of a Third Party? Libertarians in Georgia are dreaming of a permanent place on the ballot. Their gubernatorial candidate, John Monds, is polling at 9% while the Republican candidate, Nathan Deal, continues to have financial problems. If Monds can capture over 20% of the vote, the Libertarians will be considered a “political party” under state election law, allowing them to hold primary elections and be guaranteed ballot access in future races.

Texting to support a candidate may soon be more than simply asking your friends to vote for someone. Cell phone carriers are seeking approval from the Federal Election Commission to allow customers to make campaign donations via text message, similar to the recent campaigns for donations to help victims in Haiti and Pakistan.

Politically motivated non-profit organizations have been cropping up in order to campaign for parties or candidates without having to reveal where their donor money is coming from. Groups such as Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies are listed as 501(c)(4) non-profit corporations, but spend millions on political advertisements while taking advantage of an exemption that allows non-profits to keep their donor list to themselves.

GOP's big money men return

POLITICO.com: After reducing their check writing during the latter days of George W. Bush’s presidency and John McCain’s 2008 failed campaign to succeed him, wealthy conservatives have been re-energized by the 2010 midterm election, giving to GOP candidates and campaign committees as well as the independent groups that back Republicans in unprecedented amounts.