The document discusses campaign spending in the 2012 US presidential election. It notes that conservative groups spent over $1.3 billion supporting Mitt Romney and other Republicans through Super PACs. However, this massive spending appeared ineffective, as Barack Obama was reelected with a commanding Electoral College victory. While negative ads may have had some impact, Obama's strong grassroots organization and get-out-the-vote efforts in swing states were likely more important factors in his victories. Money alone cannot buy an election; enthusiasm and commitment on the ground are also crucial to success.

1. Mike Simpson, Bradford Grammar School
Can you buy
an election?
This article, in conjunction with the unlimited spending by organisations in support of a candidate on
the proviso that there were no links with the official campaign. In
one in the last edition of FPTP, seeks to
the 2010 mid-term elections there was an unprecedented avalanche
question some of the traditional views of corporate donations which in part explained the Republican
of the role of pressure groups in light advances, particularly in the House.
of the most recent developments. This
Many anticipated that the 2012 election would follow a similar path.
time the focus will be on the USA.
Indeed the Economist declared “Super PACs are changing the face of
American politics…they have reshaped the presidential campaign.”1
Many of the traditional axioms which are used to evaluate the
The major pro- Romney groups spent close to $350m in support of
impact of pressure groups in the USA relate to the importance of
Romney 2. These included:
money. Credit will be given in an A level essay for using well-worn
quotes such as “money is the mother’s milk of US politics” and “We Restore Our Future c. $132 m.
have the best Congress money can buy”, as a platform for discuss American Crossroads c. $ 80 m.
the extent to which pressure groups may undermine democracy in Freedomworks c. $ 15 m.
the USA. It has been argued by Dreiser that the “corporations are Americans for Prosperity c. $ 33 m.
the government” such is the power they wield due to their ability
to make campaign donations that come with strings attached. 1 The Economist, “The hands that prod, the wallets that feed”,
These arguments were given added impetus by the FEC v Citizen The Economist, 25.2.12.
2 Approximate figures from opensecrets.org
United ruling from the Supreme Court in 2010. This ruling allowed

2. Mike Simpson, Bradford Grammar School
Can you buy
an election?
(continued)
The main pro-Obama Super PAC, Priorities USA Action spent $64m.
There might be some debate about the difference between a Super
PAC and a pressure group, however:
a if one defines a pressure group as an organisation that seeks
to influence decision makers without seeking election and;
b that more easily identifiable pressure groups formed Super
PACs,
the organisations can legitimately be used to illustrate the role of
pressure groups. This is illustrated by establishment and spending
specific Super PACs detailed below.
The NRA Political Victory Fund $9m.
Planned Parenthood Votes $4m.
MoveOn.org Political Action $1m.
Collectively it is estimated that conservative groups over $1.3b in the
election supporting Romney and other Republicans. All the spending
seems to have been in vain as Obama was able to secure a commanding
lead in the Electoral College and the Democrats even made gains in
the Senate.
The spending, a lot of which went on negative attack ads, seem to
have been particularly ineffective. The jury is still out on this issue as
Obama’s character assassination of Romney was credited as having
an impact. In the swing states however, Obama’s ground campaign
and superior organisation have been recognised as the key to the
victories in the swing states. This was based upon the enthusiasm of
volunteers rather than the depth of the pockets of billionaire donors
such as Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate, who spent $53m. of
his own money supporting Republican candidates. This grassroots
commitment and ability to get the vote out is something which
cannot be bought.
Questions
Why is campaign finance a first amendment issue?
How did the Supreme Court divide in the FEC v.
Citizens United case and what insights into the politics of
the Court does this provide?
How do the pluralist and elitist arguments relate to the
impact of pressure groups upon democracy?