In case you hadn’t heard, the Federal Election Commission has been considering new regulations that would crack down on 527 groups, which have been going after Bush and helping reconcile the huge financial advantages the GOP enjoys over the Dems. Yesterday, the FEC’s lawyers announced their desire to push back any new limits until at least after the election.
The general counsel of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) yesterday urged the agency to delay for three months any new regulations that would restrict 527 groups and other special-interest organizations from spending millions of dollars to influence the 2004 election.
The general counsel’s recommendation to delay new regulations is a huge victory for Democrats, who are relying heavily on the television advertising campaigns and voter-mobilization efforts funded by these groups to make up for their substantial funding disparity compared to Republicans.
This is excellent news and may ultimately make the difference between winning and losing the presidential race.
Kerry’s had tremendous fundraising success this year, but he’ll never catch up to Bush. In March, for example, Kerry spent almost $6 million in TV advertising. Bush spent over $41 million — in just one month. How can Kerry keep up? He can’t.
But 527s, such as MoveOn.org and Americans Coming Together (ACT), while remaining independent of the Kerry campaign, can help immeasurably. Bush may have outspent Kerry in March seven to one, but liberal 527s spent $20 million of their own to help make up the difference.
Naturally, the FEC was asked to intervene and tip the playing field back in Bush’s favor. Yesterday’s announcement suggests the GOP efforts to silence these groups won’t work, at least not this year.
The GOP may yet try and take this to court, but it looks like 527s will be able to participate in the process and help beat Bush. It’s a good thing; Kerry would be in an almost impossible position without them.