LIBERAL GROUPS DOUBLE GOP IN SPENDING

President Obama and many congressional Democrats repeatedly have condemned the flood of outside money in elections, but liberal activists and Democraticaligned groups have adopted the strategy in a slew of recent contests.

Liberal super PACs ( political action committees) have spent about $ 10.8 million on federal races this year — twice as much as conservative super PACs, according to the Center for Responsive Politics’ tally of independent spending. Much of the money has flowed to a handful of special elections. Liberal money also makes up 70% of the election- related federal spending by politically active nonprofit groups.

Unions and two billionaires promoting liberal causes led non- party, outside spending in last week’s state contests in New Jersey and Virginia, respectively. “For better or worse, people are getting comfortable with the new campaign- finance landscape,” said Sheila Krumholz, the center’s director.

Super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts, first emerged in 2010 after federal court rulings, including the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision overturning a long- standing ban on corporate money in elections.

The amped- up political activity by liberal groups raises the stakes for the 2014 midterm congressional elections as both parties battle fiercely for control of the Senate. Republicans need a net gain of six seats to flip control to their party.

Last year, conservative super PACs outspent Democratic- aligned groups by more than 2- to- 1. This year, Republican donors, disheartened by their failure to oust Obama and the damage inflicted by last month’s government shutdown, have been slower to fund conservative PACs, said Fred Malek, a veteran GOP fundraiser.

But don’t expect any retreat from Republicans, who are closely watching the troubled rollout of the Affordable Care Act, Malek said. “Enthusiasm is growing in leaps and bounds as it becomes clear what a turkey Obamacare is,” he said.

Two billionaires — California environmentalist Tom Steyer and outgoing New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg — have helped drive up spending in support of Democratic candidates as they push climatechange and gun- control issues, respectively. Both backed Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who narrowly beat Republican Ken Cuccinelli in the Virginia governor race.

Steyer spent $ 8 million and ran ads that slammed Cuccinelli’s environmental record. The race demonstrated that “if you are a climate denier, you face enormous risk,” Steyer said.