Political spending by deep-pocketed donors and cash-rich corporations threatens to sow chaos in this year’s congressional races, political consultants warn. A billionaire or corporation writing a check for $1 million — or even $10 million — isn’t enough to swing a presidential election. But when it comes to congressional campaigns, it could be plenty. “You can work for months and years to develop a fundraising advantage over your opponent of $2 million, $5 million or $10 million. And all that can be wiped out in seconds by a few people giving to a super PAC,” said Democratic pollster Mark Mellman. While Republican and Democratic candidates are, in theory, equally susceptible to that kind of unlimited outside money, it’s the Democrats who sound much more alarmed. “No one is safe, and everyone’s got to protect themselves,” said Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf. “Super PACs can strike at any time they want.”
“There’s sort of no way to fend it off because it’s so much,” said progressive strategist Mike Lux. “It’s just so much money that even when you know it’s coming, it’s hard to deal with.” Lux said his biggest worry is the last-minute ad blitz — a staple of elections dating back to the ’90s. Now with the rise in outside money, election-eve ads can hit “at an even more massive level,” he said. The result: candidates who “can’t compete with an overwhelming mass of money at the end that swamps the close races.”
Full Article: Post-Citizens United Money May Swamp Congressional Candidates.