The recall election of Gov. Scott Walker is tomorrow and the incumbent governor has benefited from a massive fundraising disparity. The Center for Public Integrity's iWatch News reports that Walker has outraised Democrat Tom Barrett by a 7 to 1 margin, "Tuesday’s recall election of Republican Gov. Scott Walker is the most expensive in Wisconsin history. More than $63.5 million has been spent by candidates and independent groups, the overwhelming majority underwritten by out-of-state sources. The record spending total was made possible thanks to the Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court decision — which had the effect of invalidating Wisconsin’s century-old ban on independent expenditures by corporations and unions — and a state law that allows unlimited contributions to the incumbent in recall elections. ...While Barrett has received about 26 percent of his $4 million in campaign donations from outside the Badger State, Walker has drawn nearly two-thirds of his $30.5 million contributions from out of state, according to campaign filings released May 29. Walker has outraised Barrett 7 ½ to 1 since late 2011, though Barrett didn’t enter the race until late March."
Buzzfeed's Ben Smith reports that many 2008 Obama donors have not given to his reelection campaign, "In 2008, more than 550,000 gave more than $200 to Barack Obama, entering their names in the longest list of individual donors ever seen in American politics. That list was a snapshot of the hope Obama inspired in a cross sections of liberals, young professionals, African-Americans, and Democrats who saw in him a generational and historic moment. But now, as Obama struggles to keep pace with his 2008 fundraising clip, that list offers a cross-section of Democratic disappointment and alienation. According to a BuzzFeed analysis of campaign finance data, 88% of the people who gave $200 or more in 2008 — 537,806 people — have not yet given that sum this year. And this drop-off isn’t simply an artifact of timing. A full 87% of the people who gave $200 — the sum that triggers an itemized report to the Federal Elections Commission — through April of 2008, 182,078 people, had not contributed by the end of last month."
A few issues with this analysis: (1) campaigns raise money off of conflict and contrast and there hasn't been much of that for the Obama campaign until recently when Mitt Romney secured the Republican nomination; (2) many of these donors could be giving under $200 and wouldn't be reported until their aggregate contributions topped the $200 mark; (3) most donors don't give until late summer and fall--Obama raised nearly 50 percent of his total in 2008 from August through election day. There is only a small difference in fundraising for the president in 2012 when compared to 2008. If we judge his campaign based on similar time periods--the reelection campaign launched in April 2011--he has raised $15 million less in 2012 than in 2008.
NPR has yet another story on the flood of big money in the 2012 election.
Mark Schmitt writes about how Republicans decided to stop worrying and learn to hate campaign finance disclosure.
Romney and his supporters' ads have been far more negative than those run by Obama, so far.
The New York Times editorializes against social welfare nonprofits that operate essentially as political committees.
HuffPost's Jason Linkins writes that Karl Rove would like you to think that he hates fearmongering and so should you, "Karl Rove coming out against the politics of 'fear' is a truly vertigo-inducing phenomenon. It's like the pope coming out against Communion wafers. It's like Ian MacKaye making an ad for malt liquor. It is difficult to believe."
AD WATCH
Help us populate our list of campaign videos. Send any notable TV, radio or web ads that you see to Fundrace. Send your submissions to paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.
Committee: American Crossroads
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Fear"
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.
Committee: Barack Obama for President
Candidate Opposed: Mitt Romney
Spot: "We've Heard It All Before"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Republican National Committee
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Meanwhile"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Barack Obama for President
Spot: "Sarah Jessica Parker: 'That Guy'"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Club for Growth
Candidate Opposed: Will Cardon
Spot: "Tax"
Market: Arizona.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Club for Growth
Candidate Opposed: Will Cardon
Spot: "Liberal"
Market: Arizona.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Club for Growth
Candidate Opposed: Will Cardon
Spot: "Compare"
Market: Arizona.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: House Majority PAC
Candidate Opposed: Jesse Kelly
Spot: "Half You"
Market: Arizona's 8th District.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Mufi Hannemann for Congress
Spot: "Our Beliefs"
Market: Hawaii's 2nd District.
Buy: Undisclosed.
Committee: Tom Barrett for Governor
Candidate Opposed: Scott Walker
Spot: "Stonewalled"
Market: Wisconsin.
Buy: Undisclosed.
TRACKING INDEPENDENT SPENDING:
These numbers represent spending by independent groups, like super PACs and non-profits, to support or oppose a particular candidate 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.
Presidential Race:
Mitt Romney (R), $7,327,516 to support, $12,382,717 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $491,730 to support, $1,358,554 to oppose. (Oppose: +$67,456)
Most Outside Spending for Congressional Candidates:
TX-Senate: Ted Cruz (R), $827,640 to support, $2,301,841 to oppose.
TX-Senate: David Dewhurst (R), $363,000 to support, $2,481,715 to oppose.
IN-Senate: Richard Mourdock (R), $1,423,990 to support, $633,609 to oppose.
IN-Senate: Dick Lugar (R), $208,628 to support, $1,671,841 to oppose.
OR-01: Rob Cornilles (R), $98,051 to support, $1,219,148 to oppose.
RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
Progressive Kick Independent Expenditures, $13,500 to oppose Michelle Lujan Grisham for Congress in New Mexico's 1st District.
Humane Society Legislative Fund, $9,343 to support Howard Berman for Congress in California's 30th District.
Liberty USA PAC, $35,743 to support Ron Paul for President in California.
American Crossroads, $33,084 to support Jesse Kelly for Congress in Arizona's 8th District.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, $84,078 to oppose Jesse Kelly for Congress in Arizona's 8th District.
Jobs Opportunity And Freedom PAC, $1,840 to support Brad Mitzelfelt for Congress in California's 8th District.
FreedomWorks for America, $10,550 to oppose Orrin Hatch for Senate in Utah.
FreedomWorks for America, $88,042 to oppose Orrin Hatch for Senate in Utah.
FreedomWorks for America, $2,000 to support Jesse Kelly for Congress in Arizona's 8th District.
FreedomWorks for America, $2,000 to support Bruce Poliquen for Senate in Maine.
FreedomWorks for America, $4,500 to support Kevin Cramer for Congress in North Dakota's At-Large District.
Women Vote!, $1,300 to support Michelle Lujan Grisham for Congress in New Mexico's 1st District.
American Action Network, $5,377 to support Jesse Kelly for Congress in Arizona's 8th District.
Western Representation PAC, $2,700 to support Barbara Cegavske for Congress in Nevada's 4th District.
Restore America's Voice PAC, $67,456 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS
Massachusetts Forward, Alexandria, Va., Treasurer: Chris Marston. (Super PAC)
The Frag Out Marketing Liberty/Justice For All Super Mega American Dream PAC-Merica USA, Topeka, Kan., Treasurer: Dlany Conny.
PBS Coals Inc PAC, Washington, D.C., Treasurer: Michael G. Adams.
Transparency for America, Washington, D.C., Treasurer: Michael G. Adams.
Pareto PAC, Greenville, Ohio, Treasurer: Michael A. Rieman.
Restore The America Dream, Los Angeles, Calif., Treasurer: Walter D. Edwards. (Super PAC)
Americans for Liberty and Justice, Houston, Texas, Treasurer: Marian Voss.
Patriot PAC, Biloxi, Miss., Treasurer: Paul V. Breazeale. (Leadership PAC: Rep. Steve Palazzo)
Send tips, hints, submissions, rumors to HuffPost Fundrace at paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.