Super Tuesday super PAC spending topped $11.9 million with most spending concentrated on four states: Georgia, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. HuffPost reports, "In total, independent groups, which are supposedly unaffiliated with the campaigns, have spent $11.9 million across the Super Tuesday states, according to records held by the Federal Election Commission. Most of that money has gone towards television and radio ads that are almost entirely negative.
Those negative ads have largely zeroed in on former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who, despite running a shoestring campaign, has emerged as the most serious threat to Romney's grip on the nomination. Forty-two percent of all the Super Tuesday super PAC spending comes in the form of attacks on Santorum."
Secretive nonprofits are playing an important behind-the-scenes role in elections with little disclosure.
The FEC keeps looking worse and worse.
Obama tells congressional Democrats that he's not going to be sending money their way. Just another sign of how expensive the presidential race will be.
Al Hunt at Bloomberg points out the key change that led to Citizens United (and that HuffPost wrote about last year): the confirmation of Samuel Alito.
Super PACs become an issue in a Republican congressional primary race in North Carolina.
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Committee: Barack Obama for President
Spot: "Foreign Oil Dependence is Down"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Barack Obama for President
Spot: "US Oil Production Is Up"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: American Action Network
Candidate Opposed: Dan Llijenquist
Spot: "Secrets"
Market: Utah.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Scott Walker for Governor
Spot: "Promises Kept"
Market: Wisconsin.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Ted Cruz for Senate
Candidate Opposed: David Dewhurst
Spot: "Spending"
Market: Texas.
Buy: Undisclosed.
TRACKING INDEPENDENT SPENDING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE:
These numbers represent spending by independent groups, like super PACs and non-profits, to support or oppose a particular candidate for the presidency in 2012. Fundrace will update this spending daily to help show which candidates are gaining from the proliferation of independent groups in this coming election.
Newt Gingrich (R), $9,673,520 to support, $18,405,691 to oppose. (+$324,020)
Rick Santorum (R), $5,276,491 to support, $11,318,357 to oppose. (Support: +$80,477, Oppose: +$119,647)
Mitt Romney (R), $2,270,141 to support, $5,837,462 to oppose. (+$31,559)
Rick Perry (R), $4,167,697 to support, $1,404 to oppose.
Ron Paul (R),$3,721,513 to support, $133,333 to oppose. (+$2,286)
Jon Huntsman (R), $2,453,204 to support, $0 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $287,153 to support, $813,172 to oppose.
Herman Cain (R), $501,717 to support, $954 to oppose.
Gary Johnson (R), $518 to support, $0 to oppose.
RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
American Jobs PAC, $254,968 to support Newt Gingrich for President in Washington.
Endorse Liberty, $1,208 to support Ron Paul for President.
Susan B. Anthony List, $14 to support Rick Santorum for President.
Life And Marriage PAC, $50,000 to oppose Mitt Romney for President in Ohio.
Susan B. Anthony List, $1,922 to support Rick Santorum for President.
Winning Our Future $61,852 to support Newt Gingrich for President.
FreedomWorks for America, $38,812 to oppose Orrin Hatch for Senate in Utah.
Winning Freedom, $7,500 to support Newt Gingrich for President.
Campaign for Primary Accountability, $5,475 to support Dennis Kucinich for Congress in Ohio's 9th District.
Campaign for Primary Accountability, $25,850 to oppose Marcy Kaptur for Congress in Ohio's 9th District.
Campaign for Primary Accountability, $12,539 to support Debbie Halvorsen for Congress in Illinois' 2nd District.
Campaign for Primary Accountability, $10,300 to support Jean Schmidt for Congress in Ohio's 2nd District.
Campaign for Primary Accountability, $25,000 to oppose Spencer Bachus for Congress in Alabama's 6th District.
Susan B. Anthony List, $3,017 to support Rick Santorum for President.
Restore Our Future, $52,715 to oppose Rick Santorum for President in Louisiana.
Red White And Blue Fund, $43,000 to support Rick Santorum for President in Ohio.
Red White And Blue Fund, $12,000 to support Rick Santorum for President in Tennessee.
Red White And Blue Fund, $14,500 to support Rick Santorum for President in Oklahoma.
Red White And Blue Fund, $2,000 to support Rick Santorum for President in Alaska.
Red White And Blue Fund, $2,000 to support Rick Santorum for President in North Dakota.
Endorse Liberty, $1,078 to support Ron Paul for President.
Associated Builder and Contractors, $31,559 to support Mitt Romney for President.
Restore Our Future, $35,806 to oppose Rick Santorum for President in Ohio.
Restore Our Future, $18,670 to oppose Rick Santorum for President in Tennessee.
Restore Our Future, $12,456 to oppose Rick Santorum for President in Oklahoma.
Susan B. Anthony List, $2,024 to support Rick Santorum for President.
Correction: The Associated Builders And Contractors support Mitt Romney rather than oppose. The article has been changed to note this.
RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS
NONE.
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