Sorry, voters, can't talk--we've got fundraising to do. NYT: "Instead, betting that they can raise and spend far more on their own, Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney are committing to ambitious fund-raising schedules that are eating into valuable campaign time, tangling their travel schedules and complicating their efforts to woo voters."

Yesterday's number of the day was $2 billion--that's the tax break top GOP donor Sheldon Adelson, who has promised to spend $100 million in the presidential race, would get under Romney's tax plan.

And want something to watch tonight? Jonathan Soros, Trevor Potter, and Center for Competitive Politics' James Keating will debate, "“Two Cheers for Super PACs: Money in Politics Is Still Overregulated." It will be live streamed, beginning at 6:45.

Campaign Finance/Fair Elections
TNR: Who's the boss? The worst post-Citizens United ruling yet
Mark Schmitt looks at the recent story where coal miners were forced to attend a Romney rally after the mine was shut down (and they went without pay) which happened just before a recent FEC decision saying workers can be compelled by their company to campaign for certain candidates. "But they should serve as a sharp reminder that the choice in Citizens United and other debates about political money is not between freedom and regulation, but between real freedom for individuals and the sweeping power of concentrated wealth."

Huffington Post: The No Lobbying Pledge
The latest from Lawrence Lessig on a new pledge from Rootstrikers: "The 'No Lobbying Pledge' is a promise by a candidate that if he or she is elected then, for 10 years after serving in Congress, he or she will not profit from providing any 'lobbying services.'" More here.

NYT: A defeat for impartial courts
NYT editorial on the court decision in West Virginia throwing out trigger funds for the state's judicial public financing system: "The West Virginia court should have recognized a judicial election exception to reach a different result. Instead, it applied the Supreme Court’s wrongheaded view that providing public funds to underfinanced candidates based on an opponent’s spending level impedes the free speech of the better-financed candidate."

Progressive Pulse: Greenville joins cities urging Congress to overturn Citizens United
"Greenville has become the 10th city in North Carolina to approve a resolution calling on Congress to overturn Citizens United. That’s the 2010 landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows for unlimited spending by corporations and special interest groups to influence elections."

Congress/2012
Sunlight: Obama's fundraising machine leaves Romney in the dust
As always, good stuff from Bill Allison: "So can we finally stop hearing the erroneous claim that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is winning the fundraising battle against President Barack Obama, the all-time champion when it comes to vacuuming up campaign cash?"

Politico: Jimmy Carter: Money ruining elections
"Former President Jimmy Carter issued a blistering indictment of the U.S. electoral process Tuesday, saying it is shot through with 'financial corruption' that threatens American democracy."

CNN: Super PAC releases six new ads targeting House races
"A super PAC dedicated to electing Democrats to Congress on Wednesday expanded its television advertising portfolio to include three new races while launching six new ads critical of Republicans." The one against Dan Lungren goes right after him for taking Wall Street money and doing their bidding. It hits Nan Hayworth for insurance industry money.

NY Mag: Jay-Z and Beyoncing Hosting $40,000 Fundraiser for Obama
"Jay-Z and Beyoncé are hosting a $40,000-a-ticket dinner for 100 people at the rap mogul's 25th Street lounge in what might be the president's last election-year stop in New York City. "

NYT: Obama plans Wisconsin advertising, signaling the state is now in play
"President Obama’s re-election campaign on Tuesday added Wisconsin to its list of targeted states. The campaign’s first television advertisements there are set to begin on Thursday, a sign that the state is more competitive than the Obama campaign had once expected."

Politico: NRSC Greenbrier retreat to draw K Street crowd
"Nearly 200 K Streeters are headed to the deluxe Greenbrier resort in West Virginia this weekend for the National Republican Senatorial Committee's fall retreat." Other good stuff in yesterday's Politico Influence on fundraising this month, etc.

Marketplace/CPI: Hedge fund honcho seeks to oust Congressman
"Super PAC Prosperity First, which is bankrolled by wealthy hedge fund CEO Robert Mercer, is attempting to oust Democratic Rep. Tim Bishop in New York’s 1st Congressional District. In less than a week, the super PAC has spent more than $294,000 on ads."

Deseret News: Mitt Romney set to visit Utah Sept. 18 for fundraising events
"Romney is expected to hold a pair of fundraising events in Salt Lake City on Sept. 18, including a $25,000-a-person VIP reception. For Utahns who want to support the GOP candidate but can't write a check that big, a $1,000-a-plate luncheon is also planned."

TPM: How Jim Cramer solved his dad's voter ID mess in 7 hours
Want way to get around voter disenfranchisement efforts? Get a rich son.

Politico: The GOP war on the voting rights act
American University's William Yeomans, former counsel to Ted Kennedy and DOJ official on attacks on the Voting Rights Act: "Rather than working overtime to stir up fears, they should join in efforts to broaden the franchise to include as many Americans as possible."

Roll Call: OCE board members face expiring terms
On the Office of Congressional Ethics and need for Pelosi and Boehner to appoint new members: "Now, the terms of at least half of the office's eight board members will expire at the end of this Congress, and they cannot be reappointed, creating the first mandated turnover since the office was created."

Politico: Barack Obama's campaign against coal
Congressman Doc Hastings (R-Wash), chair of House Natural Resources Committee, bashes Obama on coal. Hastings top donors this year are mining interests and it's unclear how he feels about miners being forced to attend rallies of candidates who are supported financially by the mine owners.

Roll Call: Challenges await returning hopefuls
What's new for some former members of Congress running for office again this year? Money. Arizona's Matt Salmon called it "sticker shock."

CT Post: McMahons give $150k to Romney super PAC
Sort of old news: "The GOP Senate nominee gave $75,000 to the pro-Mitt Romney Super PAC Restore Our Future, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The Washington, D.C., organization tracks the role of money in campaigns."

The Hill: Crossroads up with new ads in Virginia, Ohio, and Nevada
"The GOP-aligned outside group Crossroads GPS is up with new ads targeting Senate races in Virginia, Ohio and Nevada."

Politico: Paul Ryan buys TV ad for House race
"Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan will spend $2 million on TV ads asking Wisconsin voters to send him back to the House of Representatives."

Minnesota Public Radio: Some Minn. House members spend a lot of money to raise more
Minn public radio looks at the amount of money the state's delegation has to spend to raise money.

Other/States
New York World: Real estate blankets state Senate races with contributions
"Companies associated with luxury real estate mogul Leonard Litwin have funneled more than $900,000 into races for the New York State Senate so far this election cycle — mostly to Republicans, who are fighting this fall to hold on to majority control."