"GOP cash flows freely in congressional races: Overall spending almost double what it was in 2008"

[TomCADem]

Welcome to politics post-Citizens United where billionaires like the Koch brothers and Meg Whitman can simply blow their Democratic counter-parts out of the water with record setting campaign spending.

Just five weeks from midterm elections, groups allied with the Republican Party and financed in part by corporations and millionaires have amassed a crushing 6-1 advantage in television spending and now are dominating the airwaves in closely contested districts and states across the country.

* * *

Helped by looser fundraising rules, about two dozen organizations intended to benefit Republicans are active this fall in House and Senate races; fewer than 10 are aimed at helping Democrats. Ad spending by GOP allies over the past two months has totaled nearly $30 million in 15 states with competitive Senate or House races; Democratic outside groups have spent less than $5 million.

* * *

The most significant players in the advertising assault on Senate Democratic candidates are the affiliated American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, launched under the direction of former Bush administration political operative Karl Rove, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Together, the three groups account for about $13 million in ad spending.

Ad spending on House and Senate races climbed to $220 million through Sept. 15, from $135 million at the same point in 2008, according to data analyzed by the Wesleyan Media Project. The increase mainly comes from Senate races, with Florida, Pennsylvania and Nevada topping the list.

[AlinPA]

1. If they spend $100 million per senate seat it will still be a small amount to them. We are talking

about control now, so a billion or two won't be surprising.

[TomCADem]

2. Gee, Why Are Corporations and Billionaires Spending So Much To Stop The Democrats?

They are smart folks. Obviously, they are expecting some solid return on their investment in breaking spending records on Republicans.