Outside groups spend heavily on races

Spending by independent political groups has more than doubled since 2004, a USA TODAY analysis shows, in a sign that outside organizations are gearing up for sweeping influence in the heated presidential contest. ore than $8 of every $10 spent has helped Democrats, according to the analysis of "independent expenditures" reported to the Federal Election Commission. pending by outside groups topped $17.3 million from Jan. 1, 2007, to March 31 of this year, compared with $6.8 million for the same period in the 2004 race, the analysis found. These groups — which can't legally coordinate their spending with candidates — spent $54 million in the 2004 race. "We can expect to see much more money," said Anthony Corrado, a campaign-finance expert at Colby College in Maine.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080411/1a_lede11.art.htm