Mitt Romney
The preeminent independent Super PAC is lead by former Bush administration officials, including Carl Rove. The group also has a 501(c)(4) (Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies), which can accept unlimited anonymous donations. American Crossroads spent over $21 million in the 2010 election cycle; it has already raised over $28 million in the 2012 cycle. These figures do not account for the Crossroads GPS 501(c)(4), which has already spent $12.6 million this year.
In his presidential campaign, Mitt Romney has effectively mastered the Super PAC campaign model. Staffed by Romney’s aides, Restore Our Future has raised approximately $52 million. Romney was able to inundate his primary opponents with campaign ads with help from his Super PAC; Restore Our Future spent over $42 million in the primary.
Barack Obama
Newt Gingrich
Prior to suspending his campaign, Newt Gingrich was kept afloat by his Super Pact, Winning Our Future. Over the course of the primary, the Super PAC brought in just under $24 million. Winning Our Future is especially indicative of the power of Super PACs, $20 million of the total was donated by a single family, Sheldon Adelson the Las Vegas casino mogul and his relatives.
Obama recently changed his stance on Super PACs. After denouncing the Citizens’ decision, he has now called for donations for Priorities USA Action, a Super PAC staffed by his aides. Supporters have defended the move saying one side cannot fight with the “glove off” in an election.
Special Interest Groups
Charles and David Koch
These billionaire brothers are well-known philanthropists and owners of Koch Industries, the second largest privately held company in the United States. They are also major funders of the Tea Party movement and of conservative interests in general. Their 501(c)(4), Americans For Prosperity has already spent millions this election cycle.
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is the largest labor union in the United States. It has created its own Super PAC, Workers’ Voice, to promote Democrats and to target Republicans in the election
AFL-CIO
Cato Institute
Libertarian think tank which wrote an Amicus Curiae brief in support of Citizens United in the Citizens case. Subsequently, the group has been supportive of Super PACs, saying that they are an embodiment of the First Amendment and that they “enhance democracy.”
McCain was an author of The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002 (McCain-Feingold), which was partially overturned by the Citizens’ decision. He used public financing in the 2008 presidential election and has denounced Super PACs.
John McCain
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Television personality Steven Colbert has attracted much attention to campaign finance regulation. He has established his own Super PAC, Americans For a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow and 501(c)(4), Super PAC SHH. Of the 501(c)(4), which is not required to release donors’ identities, he has said “What’s the difference between that and money laundering?” The Super PAC and 501(c)(4) have been used to lampoon, rather than condone, the campaign finance system.
Stephen Colbert
The ACLU has released policy statements reflecting the change in campaign finance regulation post-Citizens’. While it is against any limit on the First Amendment, i.e. donation limits, the ACLU has called for strict regulation of Super PACs, to prevent coordination between candidates and the groups and to ensure total disclosure of donors.
American Civil Liberties Union
