Elizabeth Warren, Scott Brown's Ban On Outside Spending Shows Some Holes

Partisan groups are already finding ways to get around an agreement barring third-party spending in the U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts.

Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Scott Brown (R) signed a pledge last month to curb negative advertising in the hotly contested race. Now outside groups are using loopholes in the agreement to get around the ban.

The anti-Scott Brown site RethinkBrown.com recently expanded its website, the Boston Globe reported Tuesday. While the agreement limits broadcast and online ads, it doesn't mention website information or print ads.

"RethinkBrown.com is hardly an independent organization, funded by unions such as the Service Employees International Union and the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and run by Morningstar and other former aides to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, a Democrat like Warren," the Globe reported.

On Tuesday a video attacking Warren for being wealthy hit the web. The particular attack also circumvents the ban, which makes no mention of web videos.

After weeks of back and forth, the two candidates agreed to the terms of the deal. If a campaign breaks the terms, it must donate half of the cost of any third-party ad to a charity of the other campaign's choosing. Both campaigns are hailing the agreement as historic and a win for the voters of Massachusetts.

More election news from beyond the presidential field:

Howard Berman Outraises Rep. Brad Sherman -- By A Lot [Los Angeles Times]

Claire McCaskill's Approval At Record Low, Could Mean Trouble For Re-Election [PPP]

Allen West Endorses Adam Hasner [Miami Herald]

George W. Bush Is Front And Center In Hawaii Senate Ad [National Journal]

Young GOP Challenger Josh Mandel Raises $1.43 Million In Ohio Senate Race [Dayton Daily News]

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Comments

[JudMiller]

11:31 PM on 02/02/2012

She is worth $15 million. Must have stole it from the little people.

[Clevelandinwi]

12:27 PM on 02/02/2012

You, scot broun, or anyone else, can NOT keep money out of a campaign. Nor negative advertising, for that matter. The Supreme Court removed that option, no matter how much the people would like to see it.

[TheEmptyMonty]

12:17 PM on 02/02/2012

Liz Warren doesn't need any of this to win the election. She's got this one locked in.

[aangelu697]

11:01 AM on 02/02/2012

Scott Brown is out of touch with real America

[Dwight Robertson]

10:14 AM on 02/02/2012

You cannot survive in a tank of sharks without teeth

[matcyn]

10:09 AM on 02/02/2012

I like Elizabeth, but both promise the moon(sorry Newt) and they can not deliver.

[kathy smelser]

07:28 AM on 02/02/2012

this is the sound of BUSN. as usual

[VPerry24]

05:28 AM on 02/02/2012

I think it is up to the voters. If we condone their bad practices and listen to the negative blips about the competition we deserve no better. This is not a cock fight. We need smarter voters
who can study what is at stake themselves and make up their mind. Most of what is being depicted is one-sided, half-baked or simply just lies. Enough already. Let us be grown up and
listen to the suggestions, their goals, etc. and maybe we will move forward. We are in a very critical time and all this in-fighting won't solve anything.

[jerryatthebeach]

07:29 PM on 02/01/2012

I don't think Senator Brown should worry about it. Look at what the other Massachusettes moderate is doing....

[FlyTheSky]

10:42 PM on 02/01/2012

"Massachusettes" (sic). Genius.

[jerryatthebeach]

01:17 PM on 02/02/2012

Being a business man and former Governor will be two advantages...

[sticks n stones]

07:05 PM on 02/01/2012

Yup, I'm afraid the negative ads are going to get through. But kudos to both for trying,.

[ILoveMyCoffee]

06:50 PM on 02/01/2012

Of course it's not working! It was all a staged act from both sides from the very beginning!