Studies: Outside Groups Spend $1.11 Billion on Election; 81% of "Dark Money" Benefits GOP New figures show outside groups such as super PACs have spent more than $1.11 billion on the 2012 election. According to Demos and U.S. PIRG, the figure marks a 400 percent increase over outside spending in 2008. More than 60 percent of the nearly $441 million raised by super PACs came from a group of just 91 people. A separate report by the Sunlight Foundation has found that "dark money" groups — which are able to donate anonymously — have spent over $213 million through November 1, with 81 percent of the money going toward backing Republican candidates. http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11...dark_money_benefits_gop#.UJicjrB_Row.facebook
For all the complaints from the left about citizens united and this sort of thing that gets Maris' panties in a bunch, I actually think this last election cycle was not one where money made any sort of difference. Both sides had plenty of it, both sides had super PACs with plenty. Obama got to spend the way his strategists chose, and so did Romney. I'd complain more about the politics of personal destruction - how the money was spent - instead of that there was "so much" money. Electing government is a pretty important thing to do. Compare with 2008 where Obama had 8x the money McCain did and we made a huge mistake electing a guy based upon how slick his ads could be. The republican primaries may have featured some number of weak candidates, but at least they got a lot more scrutiny than candidates did in past years. Seriously, does anyone realize John Edwards was the VP nominee in 2004? Where is he now? A little scrutiny would have gone a long way (Cain Train).
Seems odd that 91 people can contribute 200+M to an election, but then again, both sides are doing it, neither show signs of wanting it to stop (McCain's pledge to just use public money went where?) and more people than ever have access to news (whether it's filtered to your choice or not) than ever before. I don't think either candidate is saying that there message was unable to get across.
