Case and his PAC money

[mahina]

This from Ian Lind, bless his heart!!

http://www.ilind.net/2006/september/sept10-16.html

September 11, 2006 - Monday

The political action committee formed by a national trade association spent more than $600,000 last month to directly benefit the campaign of an island candidate. That was more than the total amount raised by the candidate through June 30, 2006.

What was the PAC and who was the candidate?

Well, last week Ed Case's campaign sent out an email urging supporters to "follow the money". So I did.

The campaign's email presented data to show that Akaka has received a greater share of his campaign funds from political action committees and from mainland residents than case.

But the figures were carefully selected. Looked at differently, the same data show Akaka raised 80% more money from Hawaii residents than Case.

And Case points the finger at "special interests" supporting Akaka, who has drawn his share of support from PACs, which are each limited to a $5,000 contribution per election.

But Case has a huge special interest hiding in his closet, according to Federal Election Commission records. And the money from this PAC doesn't show up in lists of contributions received because it was spent "independently" of the candidate and is reported elsewhere.

FEC data shows the National Association of Realtors Political Action Committee spent a whopping $602,017 in August for television ads and direct mail in direct support of Case's campaign. This included $385,000 paid to the Fenn Communications Group for television ads, and $216,417 paid to Terris Barnes & Walters for a direct mail campaign in favor of Case.

That's more than the entire $597,575 raised by the Case campaign through the end of June 2006. This one PAC, in essence, more than doubled his money and did it by acting "independently" of the Case campaign.

Akaka benefited from a $100,000 independent expenditure by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which paid for television spots on his behalf, but AFSCME's proportional role pales compares to the realtor's position in the Case effort.

Both the Realtors and the AFSCME expenditures are among the independent expenditures made recently, according to FEC data reported by PoliticalMoneyLine. You'll have to search that list for Case or Akaka to find the individual entries.

[PoiBoy]

1. thank you for that info... n/t

:hi: