Voter Blog
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Nov13
Clips Round-up for 11/13/12
Crucial point in Nick Confessore's analysis of 2012 outside spending in the New York Times: "In virtually every respect, the growth of unlimited fund-raising and the move of outside groups to the mainstream of politics have magnified the already outsize role of money in political campaigns.
Nov09Clips Round-up for 11/9/12
Friends of Democracy super PAC had a good cycle: "Friends of Democracy, formed to support candidates who favor limits on big money in politics, says that at least six of the eight candidates it supported won their races.
Nov08Clips Round-up for 11/8/12
While the conventional wisdom seems to be gelling around "look, super PACs don't matter," the reality for voters and for candidates is much different. When facing an avalanche of outside spending, candidates had to spend even more time raising money, less time with their constituents, and small donors voices were drowned out. Voters despise the non-stop negative ads from billionaire-backed super PACs. Candidates fear them and are forced to depend on deep-pocketed donors to keep up. These are not insignificant impacts.
Nov08Senate Will See At Least Six New Reform Champions in 2013
People disgusted by the big money that flooded this year’s elections should take heart with the knowledge that the U.S. Senate will see at least six new champions for fixing our broken campaign finance system.
Four U.S. House members who have advocated reform measures like the Fair Elections Now Act in the lower chamber will replace Senators who have been absent or inactive on the issue and two challengers will replace Republicans who refused to support public financing legislation.
Nov05Clips Round-up for 11/5/12
AP story on donors and diversity: "Americans living in predominantly wealthy, white neighborhoods account for nearly all the sizable campaign contributions in this year's presidential election, according to an Associated Press analysis, even as the presidential candidates have aggressively courted Hispanics."
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Nov02Clips round up for 11/2/2012
Tom Hamburger at WaPo: "It is no accident that much of the record spending in this year’s election, now funding an avalanche of last-minute ads across the country, comes from groups with a strong interest in shaping federal tax rules. Tax reform is likely to be at the top of the agenda for the next Congress. And the topic ranks as the No.
Nov01Clips Round-up for 11/1/12
Um, it's November. Also, here's a picture of Bo Obama next to a pirate version of himself.
Oct31Clips round up for 10/31/2012
Jack Gillum at AP pulls together the top donors to the Obama and Romney campaigns (and super PACs). Obama: Fred Eychaner, James Simons, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Irwin Jacobs, Jon Stryker. Romney: Shel Adelson, Harold Simmons, Bob Perry, Robert Rowling, Bill Koch.
Oct29Clips Round-up for 10/29/12
Stat of the day from Paul Blumenthal at HuffPo: "Sixty-seven percent of all super PAC donations have come from just 209 donors, or groups of related donors, giving $500,000 or more."
Stat #2 of the day from USA Today: "Five individuals and couples have cont
Oct26