In the News
Fox News: Donations to GOP presidential campaigns down despite talk of big political spending
by Shannon BreamMany, including David Keating, President of the Center for Competitive Politics, believe it’s due to a “weak” slate of GOP contenders. He points to the current congressional races as proof.
“If you look at the congressional elections, compared to four years ago, donations are actually up about 30 percent – and they’re up about 50 percent for senate races,” Keating says.
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Fox News: 2012 GOP presidential campaign cheapest in years
Features CCP President David Keating
Independent groups
International Business Times: Since Citizens United, Outside Political Spending in Presidential Elections Has Doubled
by Ashley PorteroIndependent, free-spending “super PACs” have become a troubling but accepted part of the American political landscape since the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door to their formation in 2010.
Reason: Why Super PACs Are Good for Democracy
by Jacob SullumIn the two weeks before this month’s Super Tuesday primaries, The Wall Street Journal reports, “outside political action committees supporting the Republican presidential hopefuls spent three times as much as the candidates themselves.” Rep. David Price (D-N.C.) says the “undue influence” of these so-called super PACs, which can collect and spend as much as they want as long as they do not coordinate with candidates, “strikes at the heart of our democracy.”
Politico: Super PAC comes to Kaine’s aid
by David CataneseA day after George Allen rejected Tim Kaine’s proposal to keep anonymous donors out of Virginia’s Senate race, a group of Democratic consultants have formed a Super PAC to assist the former DNC chair.
Time Swampland: What’s Ailing Democratic Super PACs?
by Adam SorensenThe New York Times takes a good look today at Democratic super PACs and their continuing fundraising troubles, tracking down various donors and cash-wranglers to find out where the problems lie. The answers are pretty interesting: There’s run-of-the-mill policy disagreement and radio silence from George “Not Much Difference Between Romney and Obama” Soros, but many donors seem to have been swayed in one fashion or another by the ongoing Republican presidential primary.
Associated Press: Dozens of Obama fundraisers attend state dinner
by Jack GillumWASHINGTON—The White House extended state dinner invitations to more than 30 of President Barack Obama’s top fundraisers, including a handful of donors to an independent political group backing his re-election effort, an Associated Press review has found.
Candidates and parties
WFPL: Campaign Finance Group Targets McConnell
by Phillip M. BailyA nonpartisan organization that favors public financing for U.S. elections is targeting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., accusing the lawmaker of being more concerned about keeping his seat than creating new jobs for Kentuckians.
STATE and LOCAL
Illinois –– Real Clear Politics: Judge nixes part of Illinois campaign finance law
by Karen Hawkins
A federal judge on Tuesday struck down part of the campaign finance law enacted by Illinois after former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was indicted, ruling that restrictions on fundraising by independent political action committees violated the First Amendment and were unconstitutional.
Maine –– Star Journal: Maine House supports Clean Election law reform
by Steve MistlerProponents of the Maine Clean Election Act on Wednesday blasted the Republican majority’s vote to pass a bill that critics say weakens the state’s citizen-initiated campaign finance law.
Tennessee –– The Tennesseean: Nashville campaign finance reports may go online
by Nate RauThe Davidson County Election Commission is working on a proposal that would allow campaign financial disclosure reports to be posted online.
