October 13, 2012

Outsiders spend lavishly on Massachusetts Senate contest

But the PACS and others honor the candidates' deal to keep their ads off TV, radio and the Internet.

The Associated Press

BOSTON - Political action committees and other outside groups are pouring millions into Massachusetts' U.S. Senate race.

click image to enlarge

Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren

The groups appear to be honoring a deal signed by Republican incumbent Scott Brown and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren designed to keep ads from outside groups off television, radio and the Internet.

Instead, the groups are focusing on mass mailings, door-to-door canvassing and automated phone calls -- also known as "robocalls" -- in an effort to appeal directly to voters.

To date, the groups have made more than $2.1 million in "independent expenditures."

An Associated Press review of reports filed with the Federal Election Commission found that groups supporting Warren and opposing Brown have spent more than $1.3 million so far. That's almost twice as much as the nearly $800,000 spent by groups supporting Brown and opposing Warren.

The group that has spent the most is the League of Conservation Voters, which opposes Brown's re-election.

The league, which says it works to elect "pro-environment candidates," has already spent more than $790,000 in Massachusetts and is vowing to spend upward of $1 million before Election Day.

The group announced Wednesday it was spending $200,000 on a new mailing highlighting what the group calls "Scott Brown's ties to Big Oil" and his opposition to President Obama's agenda. The effort includes four separate mailings targeting 150,000 households in the state.

Others supporting Warren include the International Association of Firefighters, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and a group related to Emily's List, which works to elect Democratic women who support abortion rights.

The group that has spent the most opposing Warren is Americans for Tax Reform. The group, which is headed up by anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, has already spent more than $378,000.

 

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