Ed Gillespie: Power of super PACs is no surprise

Florida's primary results showed once again that the story of 2012 is the power of super PACs. The super PAC supporting Mitt Romney, Restore Our Future, spent $16 million in January 2011 alone -- outspending other candidate PACs by millions.

Bob Schieffer interviewed Ed Gillespie, former Republican National Committee Chairman and co-founder of a different Republican super PAC making news, American Crossroads. Gillespie started American Crossroads with Karl Rove after both of them had served decades on Capitol Hill and in the White House.

Gillespie told Schieffer that PACs are obviously having an impact on this presidential primary, and he isn't surprised. He said, "I warned of this, I said, you know, if this bill [McCain-Feingold] is enacted, you're going to see these outside groups are going to have greater influence in the process, the national parties are going to have less influence in the process."

Gillespie would "prefer" a system where national parties could still accept non-federal dollars, because he thinks now the national parties are too limited to federal campaigns.

He doesn't anticipate getting what he wants though, saying campaign finance reform bills "generally don't work how people theorize they" will.

So in the meantime, American Crossroads will do what it can to support the party at all levels.

Just today the group released a Solyndra-themed TV ad targeting President Barack Obama. The ad will air on national cable for one week in a $500,000 ad buy.

[smirk5]

Obama was right. Citizens United did "open the floodgates" for special interest spending. Judge Alito didn't agree at the State of the Union. Alito was wrong.

[involved_indi]

it opened the floodgate to even the playign field from all of the unions supporting democrats around the country... many times against the wishes of union members. cut out the superpacs... but cut out the unions too...

[I_WantARealConservative]

"McCain Feingold" was design to eliminate the Super PAC because it would really only hurt the Republicans. The democrats have Unions and ABC/NBC/CBS in the tank for them as "free" super PAC's that would not be affected by the law. McAwful was either stupid for not seeing this or he's just a democrat at heart. McAwful couldn't hardly get an advertisement in because if his own law. It's going to be interesting this year once the Super PAC's for both sides get into full swing.

[BuffaloBillie]

What was to be expected? Romney and his bunch are trying to BUY this nomination with all his PAC money. He is a dirty politician and a liar to boot! He's every bit as bad as Obama, his skin color just happens to be white.

God, save America.

[DocD--2008]

The problem with Super PAC's is happening right now, Mitt Romney is "buying" the Republican nomination. 16 MILLION in Jan. alone...

[BluegrassBetty]

Super Pacs take the power away from the people and give it to corporations. Does not seem very democratic to me. Can't believe the founding fathers would have approved.