HUFFPOST FUNDRACE -- Kochs To Arm NRA

By Paul Blumenthal

Writing for HuffPost, Peter Stone reveals the Koch brothers' plans to spread money out to a variety of conservative groups like the NRA, Americans for Tax Reform, and others. Stone reports, "Three GOP fundraisers familiar with the plans of the billionaire Koch brothers and their rich friends told The Huffington Post that their donor network is expected to funnel this year tens of millions into conservative groups, including the National Rifle Association, Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform, the National Right to Life Committee, Ralph Reed's Faith and Freedom Coalition, the 60 Plus Association and the American Future Fund. By spreading their wealth throughout the conservative ecosystem, the Kochs can exploit trusted brands with passionate followings that reach beyond the Tea Party base. These three sources all requested anonymity since they are not authorized to speak about the Koch donor network's plans. The billionaire brothers, working with the Koch-founded Americans for Prosperity, aim to enlist these groups' grassroots networks to mount a national get-out-the-vote drive and ad blitz that could prove crucial to GOP fortunes in battleground states. While they have not always worked in sync, representatives of the Kochs have been meeting regularly this year with leaders of other big GOP allies, notably the Karl Rove-backed super PAC American Crossroads and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. These elite planning meetings involving Koch representatives take place in addition to larger meetings hosted periodically by American Crossroads with a dozen or so GOP groups since the 2010 midterm elections."

Democrats are taking solace in campaign finance law that enables candidates to buy advertising time at the lowest possible rate while super PACs have to pay the going market rate. HuffPost's Sam Stein reports, "Since the passage of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, candidates for office have been allowed to pay the lowest unit rate available for television and radio airtime in the 60 days prior to a general election. The discount doesn't apply to outside groups. During a normal cycle, this provides only a marginal advantage to any particular campaign. But now that political advertisements are increasingly being outsourced to outside groups with the advent of super PACs, the law could prove far more significant. Eddie Vale, a spokesman for the AFL-CIO's super PAC Workers' Voice, said it played a role, albeit a small one, in convincing his group to devote money to on-the-ground operations rather than television ad campaigns. And for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, there has been a change in strategic mindset."

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AD WATCH

Help us populate our list of campaign videos. Send any notable TV, radio or web ads that you see to Fundrace. Send your submissions to paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.

Committee: Mitt Romney for President
Spot (English Language): "A Better Day"
Spot (Spanish Language): "Un Dia Mejor"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Republican National Comittee
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Symbol of Failure"
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.

Committee: Barack Obama for President
Spot: "Anna Wintour: 'Don't Be Late'"
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.

Committee: Republican National Comittee
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Four Years Later, Not Better Off: May Jobs Numbers 'A Tragedy'"
Market: YouTube.
Buy: None. Just a web video.

Committee: Republican National Comittee
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Jesse Kelly Said He Would Eliminate Medicare Over Time"
Market: Arizona's 8th District.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Scott Walker for Governor
Candidate Opposed: Tom Barrett
Spot: "Records"
Market: Wisconsin.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Tom Barrett for Governor
Spot: "Russ Feingold: Vote Barrett and Put Wisconsin First"
Market: Wisconsin.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Mike Pence for Governor
Spot: "Pence Hard Working Heritage"
Market: Indiana.
Buy: Undisclosed.

TRACKING INDEPENDENT SPENDING:

These numbers represent spending by independent groups, like super PACs and non-profits, to support or oppose a particular candidate in 2012. Fundrace will update this spending daily to help show which candidates are gaining from the proliferation of independent groups in this coming election.

Presidential Race:
Mitt Romney (R), $7,327,516 to support, $12,382,717 to oppose.
Barack Obama (D), $491,730 to support, $1,291,098 to oppose.

Most Outside Spending for Congressional Candidates:
TX-Senate: Ted Cruz (R), $827,640 to support, $2,301,841 to oppose.
TX-Senate: David Dewhurst (R), $363,000 to support, $2,481,715 to oppose.
IN-Senate: Richard Mourdock (R), $1,423,990 to support, $633,609 to oppose.
IN-Senate: Dick Lugar (R), $208,628 to support, $1,671,841 to oppose.
OR-01: Rob Cornilles (R), $98,051 to support, $1,219,148 to oppose.

RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES

LCV Victory Fund, $1,339 to oppose Heather Wilson for Senate in New Mexico.
League of Conservation Voters, $76,932 to support Jon Tester for Senate in Montana.
Majority PAC, $227,238 to support Claire McCaskill for Senate in Missouri.
Patriot Super PAC, $5,000 to support Allen West for Congress in Florida's 22nd District.
Citizens for Prosperity and Good Government, $5,750 to support Michael Crimmins for Congress in California's 51st District.
Citizens for Prosperity and Good Government, $5,750 to support Michael Crimmins for Congress in California's 51st District.
Progressive Kick Independent Expenditures, $27,720 to oppose Michelle Lujan Grisham for Congress in New Mexico's 1st District.
Restoring Our Community, $3,434 to support Pete Aguilar for Congress in California's 31st District.
American Action Network, Inc., $8,337 to support Jesse Kelly for Congress in Arizona's 8th District.

RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS

Conservative Action Committee, Tallahassee, Fla., Treasurer: Abby F. Dupree. (Super PAC)

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