More than two billion dollars. That's how much money was spent in the 2012 presidential campaign-the most expensive campaign in history. Each party raised and spent more than one billion dollars as the traditional boundaries of campaign financing were ignored. Both parties could do so because they were playing in a game with new rules-rules that largely developed after the 2010 Supreme Court ruling known as Citizens United. That case removed many restrictions on donation limits, particularly for corporations and unions. The result was the development of a new set of political players called "Super PACs" that were allowed to enter the political arena and spend an unlimited amount of money on behalf of clients.
This book looks at how Super PACs raised and spent money and influenced the 2012 election. It provides an insightful look at how both right- and left-leaning groups approached the election and impacted the political process.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction: The genesis of Super PACs in the 2010 midterm elections
Super PACs in the 2012 Primaries
2. Major Super PACs and Supporters: An Overview
3. The Republican Primaries: Mitt Romney and Restore Our Future
4. Democratic Super PACs active in the 2012 Republican Primary
Super PACs in the 2012 General Election
5. Major Democratic Super PACs in General Election
6. President Barack Obama and Priorities USA
7. Not-For-Profit Super PACs
8. Major Republican Super PACs
9. Romney and Restore Our Future 2: The General Election
10. Karl Rove and American Crossroads
11. Lone Mavericks
Barry P. Smith
12. Looking Back, Looking Forward: Conclusions and Discussion
Index
About the Authors
