Independent groups expected to rake in hundreds of millions

[alp227]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) -- As President Barack Obama kicks off the 2012 money race with a series of well-publicized re-election fundraisers in Chicago, Democratic operatives are quietly crisscrossing the nation to raise big money for new independent expenditure groups.

All told, these Democratic third-party groups aim to raise up to $200 million in outside money -- that's in addition to the $1 billion Obama's fundraisers set as their campaign goal. The number and size of the independent expenditure groups ballooned last year, thanks in part a Supreme Court ruling that allows unlimited contributions by corporations.

There is some irony here: Obama has denounced these secretive third-party groups as tools of "powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans." But now Democrats say, after they were trounced in the 2010 midterm elections by GOP-aligned third-party groups --- including those founded by Karl Rove and the Koch brothers --- they have no choice but to join them.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/04/14/independent.fundraisers/index.html

[glowing]

1. How sad.. 1 billion for a campaign... How many children could be fed with

that money.. or text books bought... or any number of items?

[cyberpj]

2. Would the country re-elect him if he donated all he raised and took a campaign reform stance?

Just a thought.

[groundloop]

3. Unfortunately, NO. Need $$$ to compete.

It's a sad fact that it takes big $$$ to win elections. And you know the Publicans will be spending tremendous amounts of money to spread lies and disinformation.

[AndyTiedye]

4. The Republicans Will Spend Ten Billion

[bemildred]

5. Expect a gold rush.

Lots of candidates and "independent operatives" in it for the money.