HUFFPOST FUNDRACE -- "They're gonna run Congress and the White House"

HUFFPOST FUNDRACE -- "They’re gonna run Congress and the White House"

The personal fundraising pitch that President Barack Obama makes to high-dollar donors sounds a lot like the fundraising e-mails the campaign sends out asking for $3 donations. The Daily Beast's Lloyd Grove obtained a recording of the president's personal fundraising pitch, "'The majority on this call maxed out to my campaign last time. I really need you to do the same this time,' the president said in a highly unusual (and presumably legal) fundraising pitch from Air Force One on his way back to Washington from Colorado Springs, where he’d been assessing the terrible damage caused by uncontained wildfires. A special phone on the government aircraft is dedicated to political calls that are paid for by the campaign. 'I’m asking you to meet or exceed what you did in 2008,' the presidential pitchman continued, speaking to donors who were invited to dial in based on their contributions during the last election. 'Because we’re going to have to deal with these super PACs in a serious way. And if we don’t, frankly I think the political [scene] is going to be changed permanently. Because the special interests that are financing my opponent’s campaign are just going to consolidate themselves. They’re gonna run Congress and the White House.'"

A number of super PACs have formed and spent money in congressional races before having to disclose the source of their funds, a new report from the Center for Responsive Politics finds.

Sen. Jim DeMint is decoupling himself from his leadership PAC so that it can turn itself into a super PAC. DeMint is not allowed to coordinate with a super PAC and cannot be connected to the PAC anymore. A previous attempt by Sen. Mike Lee to run a super PAC was rebuffed by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). DeMint can still raise money for the PAC.

Fred Davis, the GOP ad man behind the spiked super PAC plan to blast Obama for his ties to the controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright, is very sorry and swears that he isn't racist, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Sunlight Foundation looks at congressional spending on advertising and finds that a huge spike in spending occurs in October. Also, current congressional ad spending is actually lagging the pace set in 2008 and 2010.

The Democratic super PAC, House Majority PAC, released details on the advertising buys that it has reserved, in partnership with the Service Employees International Union, for the fall months prior to the election.

AD WATCH

Help us populate our list of campaign videos. Send any notable TV, radio or web ads that you see to Fundrace. Send your submissions to paulblumenthal@huffingtonpost.com.

Committee: American Future Fund
Candidate Opposed: Barack Obama
Spot: "Fast and Furious II"
Market: Unknown.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Pete Hoekstra for Senate
Spot: "The Fight Continues"
Market: Michigan.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: National Republican Congressional Committee
Candidate Opposed: Lois Capps
Spot: "Repeal Capps"
Market: California's 23rd District.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Mufi Hannemann for Congress
Spot: "Economy"
Market: Hawaii's 2nd District.
Buy: Undisclosed.

Committee: Tarryl Clark for Congress
Spot: "Doug"
Market: Minnesota's 8th District.
Buy: Undisclosed.

TRACKING INDEPENDENT SPENDING:

These numbers represent spending by independent groups, like super PACs and non-profits, to support or oppose a particular candidate in 2012. Fundrace will update this spending daily to help show which candidates are gaining from the proliferation of independent groups in this coming election.

Presidential Race:
Mitt Romney (R), $7,337,304 to support, $20,972,667 to oppose. (Support: +$9,788; Oppose: +$54,578)
Barack Obama (D), $747,351 to support, $9,314,148 to oppose. (Oppose: +$100,691)

Most Outside Spending for Congressional Candidates:
TX-Senate: Ted Cruz (R), $933,252 to support, $2,325,821 to oppose.
TX-Senate: David Dewhurst (R), $536,126 to support, $2,481,715 to oppose.
IN-Senate: Richard Mourdock (R), $1,442,961 to support, $1,280,052 to oppose.
OH-SEN: Josh Mandel (R), $172,404 to support, $1,739,326 to oppose.
IN-Senate: Dick Lugar (R), $208,628 to support, $1,671,841 to oppose.

RECENT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES

National Rifle Association of America Political Victory Fund, $550 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
League of Conservation Voters Inc., $72,932 to support Jon Tester for Senate in Montana.
SEIU COPE, $25,000 to oppose Josh Mandel for Senate in Ohio.
1911 United, $9,788 to support Barack Obama for President.
National Right to Life Victory Fund, $4,706 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
Priorities USA Action, $54,578 to oppose Mitt Romney for President.
American Crossroads, $99,736 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
National Rifle Association of America Political Victory Fund, $405 to oppose Barack Obama for President.
YG Action Fund, $22,750 to oppose Scott Keadle for Congress in North Carolina's 8th District.
Main Street Advocacy, $18,303 to oppose Jack Hoogendyk for Congress in Michigan's 6th District.
League of Conservation Voters Inc., $23,912 to support Pete Gallego for Congress in Texas' 23rd District.

RECENT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REGISTRATIONS

NONE.

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