The Secret Money Project- Follow the independent groups' big money commercials this election season

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From: Center for Investigative Reporting

Election 2008: The Secret Money Project

The Center for Investigative Reporting and National Public Radio have launched a joint initiative tracking the hidden cash in this election season. The Secret Money Project catalogues and examines the sometimes-shadowy independent groups seeking to influence both the presidential and Senate races.
In 2004, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads kneecapped Democratic
presidential candidate John Kerry’s campaign. This year’s crop of
independent ads has the potential to be equally powerful. Outside advocacy
groups can raise unlimited sums of money and operate under more secrecy than the candidates or party committees. Check out The Secret Money Project on NPR.org:
[ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92513698 ]

+ INTERACTIVE MAP: Who's paying to influence voters in your state? Watch the
ads and learn who's behind them in a state-by-state interactive map:
[ http://tinyurl.com/4wq5pt ]

+ BLOG: A blog of breaking news and analysis by reporters Peter Overby (NPR)
and Will Evans (CIR):
[ http://www.npr.org/blogs/secretmoney/ ]

+ DIG DEEPER: See profiles of key advocacy groups, showing their background,
context and funding sources. A leadership directory details the interconnected
web of political operatives behind the advocacy groups:
[ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92458631 ]

+ SEND US TIPS: Readers can report new ads, automated calls, and other
political efforts by independent groups:
[ http://www.npr.org/contact/election_secretmoney.html ]

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Center for Investigative Reporting
2927 Newbury Street, Suite A
Berkeley, CA 94703-2565
p: 510.809.3160
f: 510.849.1813
e: [ center@cironline.org ]
w: [ http://www.centerforinvestigativereporting.org ]


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Look for possibly big money commercials by nonprofits later this election season

According to a Feb. 25th Mother Jones article, a shift of major campaign funds from candidates and parties to individuals will take place later this election season. And 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations may have a say on what commercials will be aired right before the November general elections.

Even if the two eventual major party presidential candidates accept the public financing system for their general election campaigns this fall, they will have little say or control over people outside their campaigns advertising for or against them costing millions of dollars.

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