How Much Does It Cost to Buy a Presidency?

Obama has spoken strongly against the influence of these organizations. He criticized former candidate John Edwards for accepting help from a union 527 before the Iowa caucus:

"John said yesterday he didn't believe in these 527s. You can't say yesterday you don't believe in it, and today three-quarters of a million dollars is being spent for you."

Obama has since done little to stop the flow of money from outside organizations to help him, which appears to contradict his strong statements on the matter.

His primary opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D., N.Y.), also has a 527 helping her efforts. The group calls itself the American Leadership Project, which was started by veterans hailing from the Clinton administration. The group helped Clinton in Texas, and press reports say it's also running advertising in Indiana, which has its primary Tuesday. The group introduced a hard-hitting ad in the state, prompting protests from Obama's campaign, which has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) about the group coordinating with the Clinton campaign. Clinton, like Obama, has gotten money from unions, including more than $4 million from AFSCME, which represents teachers.

Clinton has supported public financing for campaigns, which suggests she supports a ban on independent groups like the one helping her. Her campaign did not comment on the group's activity for this report. In fact, the law forbids such groups to coordinate with the campaign.

There have been no reports of independent groups helping McCain. But I see a dynamic developing in the campaign that has parallels to the 2004 election. The CPI included in its most recent report an incident from that campaign. Ben Ginsberg, a lawyer for the Bush campaign, also represented the "Swift Boat" group. Ginsberg wound up resigning from his post.