From USA TODAY:
Spending by the presidential contenders in this year’s wildly unpredictable Republican primary has fallen sharply from 2008 levels, but the money flowing from outside groups, including new super PACs, has soared dramatically, new figures show.
Last-minute spending by super PACs to influence the White House battle topped $44 million through Monday morning, eclipsing the $10.6 million that outside groups had spent at this point in the 2008 presidential campaign, according to federal data tallied by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics
The spending is leaving its mark on Florida, the site of today’s crucial GOP primary. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and his allies, especially the pro-Romney Restore Our Future, aired 12,768 television commercials in the state through Wednesday compared with 210 by former House speaker Newt Gingrich and his supporters, a study released Monday by the Wesleyan Media Project shows…
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EDITOR: According to Joe Scarborough and his guests on Morning Joe, $30 million has been spent on the Florida Republican primary alone. Moreover, 92% of the ads were ads were negative. This is primarily Super Pac money.
When affluent individuals contribute their $2500 to a candidate, it is a matter of conviction and perhaps ego. But when corporations and individuals donate $100,000 on up, it is usually with the intent of later benefiting through government largess… perhaps at the rate of $10 gained for every dollar spent.
So what we have is the selling of our democracy to the highest bidders.
The concerned citizen must ask why bother to contribute $100, $200, a $1,000 or even $2,500 at all since it will have no impact whatsoever.
Our number one priority must be campaign financing reform which can only now be accomplished through a constitutional amendment. Until then, the rich will grow richer and the middle class will continue to shrink.
Without a constitutional convention, our children and grandchildren will have a lower standard of living and few opportunities for advancement.
