Little impact on election from outside spending
E. Thomas McClanahanEver since the Citizens United Supreme Court decision allowing corporations and unions to spend on politics, good-government types have been wringing their hands in despair. But it turns out that outside spending had little impact on last week’s election.
The Washington Post reports that the campaign marked a spending tsunami by billionaires and privately held corporations, fueling attack ads by super PACs and nonprofits.
Despite the cost and considerable effort, the money-wave failed to achieve its main goals of unseating President Obama and handing control of the Senate to the GOP.
In the Senate, Republicans even lost ground, even though more than $100 million was sprayed at seven races. They all went to the Dems. Thanks to outside money, Republican Mitt Romney was able to nearly match Obama’s spending, but it was all for naught. Republican spending made little difference in the House races that were targeted.
It’s another reminder that while money is an important factor in campaigns, what matters most is the candidate and the ideas on which that person runs.
Phil Cardarella
6 months, 2 weeks agoThink of it as the GOP Right Wing’s Stimulus Plan for TV affiliates and flyer printers.
Oh, and Karl Rove. He probably hauled in @$10-15 Million in fees & commissions from the “independent” committees he ran.
Oh, well. It is not as if the Kochs are going to miss it.