“Outside” Cash Dominating Political Races

Most of the spending so far in Michigan’s gubernatorial and US Senate races has come from independent sources, instead of the candidates themselves. The Michigan Campaign Finance Network reports that Governor Rick Snyder’s campaign spent one-point-two million dollars on TV ads through Labor day. Meanwhile, the Republican Governor’s Association has spent well over three million dollars touting the governor. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mark Schauer’s campaign has spent 832-thousand dollars on television… while the Democratic Governor’s Association has spent four-point-six million dollars supporting him.

Spending on the U-S Senate Campaign is shaking out the same way. 66 percent of the money spent on behalf of Republican Terri Lynn Land has come from outside sources… as has 85 percent of the money spent to support Democrat Gary Peters.