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From Democracy Now, if anyone was wondering what's keeping the Newt Gingrich campaign afloat after it looked like it was going to implode earlier this year, we can thank our Supreme Court and that Citizens United ruling -- Newt Gingrich’s Campaign Resurgence Funded by Secretive Coterie of Super PACs, Wealthy Backers:
With the Iowa caucus less than two weeks away and the Republican presidential race still up for grabs, we take in an in-depth look at the state of politics and money and how last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission has altered campaign fundraising since it opened the floodgates for unlimited corporate spending on election campaigns.
Several recent exposes reveal how Newt Gingrich has skirted campaign finance rules to raise millions of dollars in unlimited donations from billionaire backers and big industry. McClatchy Newspapers recently reported Gingrich helped bankroll his resurrection as a candidate by exploiting a gap in federal campaign finance laws to create a political money machine that raised $54 million over five years.
Meanwhile the Center For Public Integrity has published new details on how Gingrich has the backing of two so-called super PACs that raise unlimited donations, but legally must operate independently of the campaign. We speak with Peter Stone, a reporter with Center for Public Integrity who has covered lobbying and campaign finance issues for the past two decades, and McClatchy investigative reporter Greg Gordon.
You can read Greg Gordon's report from McClatchy here:
Did Gingrich bend campaign laws with his 'independent' committee?
And here are Peter Stone's articles from the Center for Public Integrity:
Odd couples: Gingrich casts wide net to evangelicals, Tea Party and K Street lobbyists
Billionaire backer may open wallet for Gingrich but bring unwanted baggage
