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Six congressional races swamped by outside spending

The airwaves this year have been flooded with political ads from third party groups, thanks to a set of 2010 Supreme Court rulings including the Citizens United decision, which ushered in a new era of unlimited political spending in America.

While most of the spotlight this year is on the presidential election, outside groups have the potential to make a bigger impact in congressional races, where a six-figure ad buy -- and especially a seven-figure investment -- can go a long way.

The nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics tracks outside spending in congressional races. Based on their data, here's a look at three House races and three Senate races where outside groups are spending the most to influence the outcome.

NEXT: Ohio 16: Betty Sutton vs. Jim Renacci

OHIO 16: Betty Sutton vs. Jim Renacci


Ohio's newly-drawn 16th congressional district was practically designed for a high-stakes fight.

First of all, it pits two incumbents against one another. After Ohio lost two congressional seats as a result of the 2010 Census, three-term Democrat Betty Sutton lost her seat and decided to challenge freshman Republican Rep. Jim Renacci, who currently represents the old 16th district. WKSU radio describes the two congressional representatives as "polar opposites" politically.

The candidates are facing off in a northeastern district that includes the cities of Canton and Wooster and leans Republican, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer -- in 2008, John McCain outpolled Barack Obama 51 percent to 47 percent in the new district. It's also, as the Plain Dealer notes, "considered a place whose politics mirrors the nation's."

The race is considered a toss up and has attracted nearly $4 million in outside spending. Both sides are investing heavily in the race, though Democratic-aligned groups have so far spent more. The largest investment comes from the AFSCME labor union (American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees), which has so far spent more than $1.3 million in opposition to Renacci, while the Democratic House Majority PAC has spent more than $490,000 against Renacci. On the other side, the Republican super PAC Congressional Leadership Fund has spent just over $1 million against Sutton. Additionally, the House GOP's campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has spent nearly $600,000 in the race.

The race has gotten dirty. In the above ad from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, a local woman who survived breast cancer charges Renacci with voting against funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings. Renacci complained to the Ohio Elections Commission that the ad was false, but the board voted along partisan lines to dismiss the complaint.

NEXT: California 7: Dan Lungren vs. Ami Bera

CALIFORNIA 7: Dan Lungren vs. Ami Bera


If anyone knows about the impact of outside spending, it's Democrat Ami Bera, who described to NPR how spending from third party groups overwhelmed his efforts to challenge Republican Rep. Dan Lungren in 2010.

Bera is back for a rematch against the four-term Republican in the Sacramento district, and outside groups have already thrown more than $3.9 million into the race. AFSCME is the biggest spender so far, investing $800,000 up to this point to attack Lungren. The Sierra Club Independent Action, the environmental group's super PAC, has also spent $625,000 against Lungren because of his support for the plan to drain the Hetch Hetchy reservoir in Yosemite National Park.

On the Republican side, the NRCC has spent more than $637,000 on the race, with the vast majority of the funds being used to attack Bera. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also spent $490,000 so far in attacking the Democratic challenger. In the above ad, the Chamber slams Bera, a former physician, for supporting the Affordable Care Act, making the case that the health care law will result in higher taxes for Californians.

Lungren and Bera faced off in their first and likely only debate last week, where they exchanged heated words over issues like Medicare and took some personal jabs at one another.

NEXT: Minnesota 8: Rep. Chip Cravaack vs. Rick Nolan

MINNESOTA 8: Rep. Chip Cravaack vs. Rick Nolan


In Minnesota's 8th district, which covers the northeastern part of the state, which includes the city of Duluth, "outside groups [are] digitally carpet-bombing a blue collar population that is just now realizing they live in a swing district," reports Minnesota writer Aaron Brown.

Former Rep. Rick Nolan, a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, is challenging Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack. Cravaack ousted longtime Democratic Rep. Jim Oberstar in the Tea Party wave of 2010.

Outside spending has so far surpassed $3.4 million, with the largest investment coming from the NRCC, which has spent most of its $712,874 investment attacking Nolan. The American Action Network, a conservative nonprofit that doesn't disclose its donors, has spent nearly $590,000 opposing Nolan. The the other side, AFSCME has spent $584,000 attacking Cravaack, while the DCCC has spent more than $411,000 against the Republican incumbent. In the ad above, AFSCME casts Cravaack as beholden to Big Oil and Wall Street.

In addition to spending heavily in the district, some influential outside groups recently made endorsements: Nolan won the United Steelworkers' support, which could be key given the significance of mining issues in the district, while Cravaack won the NRA's coveted endorsement.

NEXT: VIRGINIA SENATE: Tim Kaine vs. George Allen

VIRGINIA SENATE: Tim Kaine vs. George Allen


The Virginia Senate race, pitting two former governors against each other, is one of the highly-competitive races this year that could decide whether Democrats or Republicans have control of the Senate.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the Karl Rove-linked super PAC powerhouse, Crossroads GPS, is channeling huge sums of money into the race, as are other groups on both sides.

Outside groups have spent nearly $16 million so far on the race between Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican George Allen, who are competing to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jim Webb. Crossroads GPS, a tax-exempt nonprofit group, has spent the most, investing nearly $4.5 million to attack Kaine. Its sister organization American Crossroads (which, unlike Crossroads GPS, is required to reveal its donors) has spent another $728,000 attacking Kaine. The two groups together have aired a total of 12 different ads in Virginia. In the above ad, Crossroads GPS calls Kaine "addicted" to spending, slamming him for a tax proposal he put forward in 2009.

On the Democratic side, big spenders include the Democratic super PAC, Majority PAC, which has spent more than $3.6 million attacking Allen. The nonpartisan, pro-environment group the League of Conservation Voters has also spent more than $1.4 million against Allen. The Associated Press described one League of Conservation Voters mailer against Allen that portrayed him as the goofy "Gilligan" character from the 1960s show "Gilligan's Island."

NEXT: WISCONSIN SENATE: Tommy Thompson vs. Tammy Baldwin

WISCONSIN SENATE: Tommy Thompson vs. Tammy Baldwin


In the hyper-partisan state of Wisconsin, the Senate race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl is extremely competitive , with Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin holding the slightest edge over former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Wisconsin has seen a series of dramatic political developments in recent years, including massive protests over Republican Gov. Scott Walker's agenda and his attempted recall. Thompson is one of the state's best-known politicians, and he's up against one of Congress' most liberal Democrats.

Outside groups have spent more than $15 million on the race, and so far, Democrats and their allies have outspent conservatives. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is leading the way, with more than $2.1 million invested in the race. The Democratic super PAC, Majority PAC, has also spent more than $2 million against the Republican candidate. In the above ad, the DSCC slams Thompson for being more concerned with protecting special interests than protecting seniors on Medicare

On the other side, Crossroads GPS has kept up with the DSCC, spending more than $2.1 million in opposition to Thompson. Crossroads GPS and American Crossroads have aired four different ads in Wisconsin.

NEXT: OHIO SENATE: Sherrod Brown vs. Josh Mandel

OHIO SENATE: Sherrod Brown vs. Josh Mandel


Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown started his re-election campaign with a solid lead over his competitor, Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, but has seen it erode as outside groups poured more than $14 million into the race.

Mandel, a youthful looking, 34-year-old former Marine, is trying to make inroads with working class voters. Brown, meanwhile, is the only Democrat in statewide office right now, but he isn't shying away from his liberal, pro-union views.

Brown may stand by his liberal record, but Crossroads GPS has spent more than $2.1 million trashing it. In the above ad, Crossroads calls out Brown for supporting the Affordable Care Act and argues that the vote cost Ohioans jobs. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also spent just over $2 million against Brown.

Meanwhile, Majority PAC has invested more than $2.3 million in attacking Mandel, while the DSCC has spent over $1.9 million.

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