While the candidates are shaking hands on the ground, political ads are bombarding television screens. But how do you know where they are coming from? Who is behind each one?
When you can see the candidate and hear his voice, you know the political ad you're watching comes from his campaign. But more and more often, more and more ads are coming from different advocacy groups like Political Action Committees, 527s and Super PACs.
Augustana Professor Dr. Steve Klien says, "Independent organizations that run negative ads tend to have the ads that are both the most emotionally provocative and factually sketchy." So our experts say, pay attention to fine print on your television screen to see who sponsored the ad you're watching.
A Political Action Committee can contribute to political campaigns and parties that will then use the money to buy ads. 527s are non-profits. These groups can spend unlimited amounts of money on ads, as long as those ads are specifically for voter education or issue advocacy. Super PACs are newer, made possible by two recent Supreme Court rulings. They are committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from people, unions and corporations.
By the end of August, our expert says Super PACs had raised 350 million dollars. 60 percent of that, coming from just 100 donors. He says Super PACs are changing the election process. "The golden rule will take effect. He who has the gold makes the rules. What you've got is a small number of people with lots of money that can spend it on negative advertising."
And while many say they'd rather hear about the issues, experts say negative ads "move the needle". They move voters to make decisions and move them to turn out at the polls. And it's something we will continue to see, not only in presidential elections, but at the state level as well.
Our expert says the candidates' campaigns for the 17th Congressional District in Illinois have collectively spent more than two million dollars. But independent organizations have spent three times that. "They have a sense in what they want the Congress to look like, and so millions of dollars are being spent in places nowhere near the 17th District."
