Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
New poll: Maine voters overwhelmingly want to keep Clean Elections 
There's a new poll out in Maine, and no surprise, voters don't want the legislature to end Clean Elections.
- And from Maine: "Bottom line is Mainers like Clean Elections" http://www.pressherald.com/news/bottom-line-is-mainers-like-clean-elections_2011-05-11.html
- Another: "Clean Election fund not a piggy bank." http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/editorials/clean-election-fund-not-a-piggy-bank_2011-05-11.html

Darrell Issa, fighting Obama disclosure, accused of doing donor's bidding
We sent letters to six House GOP chairmen yesterday questioning their motives in opposing Obama's executive order.
- FoxNews.com <http://FoxNews.com>  mentions it too: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/10/issa-threatens-subpoena-obamas-budget-director-contracting-dispute/.
- And here's the release and letters: http://campaignmoney.org/press-room/2011/05/10/executive-order-letters
- Steny Hoyer isn't pleased about the order: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/10/steny-hoyer-disclose-obama-executive-order_n_860310.html

Political contributions should be more transparent
The SF Chronicle says Obama should go for it and sign the transparency order.
- Anchorage Daily News agrees: http://www.adn.com/2011/05/10/1855641/our-view-disclosure.html.

Congress/2012
IRS gift tax move could hit new anonymous groups
The IRS looks like it's going to start going after the gift tax--which could affect the anonymous spending groups like Crossroads GPS.

Romney focused on outraising--by far--Republican presidential competitors
Mitt Romney can't be bothered to make friends in early battleground states--he's got money to raise. "The presumed Republican front-runner...has spent his early weeks as an exploratory candidate soliciting pledges in hopes of amassing a war chest that would put him far ahead of his competitors."

Oil industry reaping benefits on massive campaign contributions
Sayeth the Mercury News editorial board: "This isn't about lowering gas prices. It's about giving campaign donors a return on their investment."

Democrats raising money they oppose
"Democrats have railed for more than a year against the landmark Supreme Court decision that unleashed unlimited and undisclosed corporate and union dollars in political campaigns, but now they’re preparing to collect and spend this same money."

American Crossroads supports Jane Corwin in House race
Republicans, nervous about losing a seat in NY-26, are sending American Crossroads money to try to save it.
- LOL, and the ad is going after the other Republican in the race, Jack Davis (as in Davis v. FEC) as a "millionaire career candidate."

Other
Bill De Blasio's campaign bungle
Former RNC Counsel Brad Smith doesn't like Bill de Blasio's research on corporate tax avoiders and their campaign contributions. Let's hope readers will make it past today's NY Post cover story on Will Smith's trailer on the set of Men in Black 3 to read this.