CCP
David Keating on the Parameters of the Super PAC
By Joe TrotterAmericans aren’t the victims of a vast conspiracy run by wealthy elites; they’re the beneficiaries of a robust democracy fueled by competition, with winners and losers decided by the number of people who come out on election day and express their support for the candidates with which they most agree.
Independent groups
Washington Times: Major union hits the streets for Obama
By Luke RosiakThe Service Employees International Union’s (SEIU) political army is hitting the streets.
Politico: Priorities begins reserving $30 million in fall time
By Maggie HabermanProrities USA Action, the pro-President Barack Obama super PAC, is making ad reservations for the fall to the tune of $30 million in broadcast and cable time in six key swing states, a source familiar with the buy confirmed to POLITICO.
Disclosure
NY Times: Another front in the disclosure wars
By Joseph TanfaniA conservative group has filed a suit against the Federal Election Commission, a move intended to make sure it can run ads this summer that criticize the Obama administration’s energy policy without having to reveal who is paying for them.
Candidates and parties
Huffington Post: Barack Obama 2012 Fundraising Close To 2008 Record-Setting Pace
By Paul BlumenthalIt seems a distant memory when discussion of Barack Obama’s fundraising revolved around the imminent possibility that the president, the record holder for money hauled in by a single candidate’s campaign committee, would raise more than $1 billion for his reelection campaign. That isn’t going to happen, as Obama campaign manager Jim Messina so elegantly admitted this past December. In fact, it’s highly unlikely that Obama or his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, will meet or exceed Obama’s 2008 record of $750 million.
NY Times (Blog): Obama Supporters Barraged With Pleas for Cash
By MICHAEL D. SHEAREach plea for money from President Obama and his allies has become more urgent and desperate than the last.
Reuters: Obama donates $5,000 to his own election campaign
By Eric JohnsonPresident Barack Obama has done what his campaign has asked millions of voters to do for months: go online and donate to his re-election effort.
Politico: W.H. declines to address off-site meetings
By REID J. EPSTEINPresident Obama’s campaign manager regularly used his personal email account while working in the White House but was diligent in copying his official email address to preserve records of the emails, Press Secretary Jay Carney said Wednesday.
Lobbying and ethics
Washington Post: Ethics panel says Rep. Laura Richardson broke federal law, obstructed probe
By Ben PershingThe House Ethics Committee called for the full chamber to reprimand Rep. Laura Richardson on Wednesday, accusing the California Democrat of breaking federal law, violating House rules and obstructing the committee’s investigation.
FEC
Campaigns and Elections: Mobile firm offers new text-to-donate proposal to FEC
By Dave NyczepirMobile strategy firm Revolution Messaging has jumped into the text-to-donate debate with an advisory opinion request submitted to the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday.
