NRA Spends to Keep Obama Out of White House

In late June 2008, the National Rifle Association committed $40 million to the 2008 election, with $15 million of that earmarked for direct persuasion. Buoyed by the previous week's Supreme Court vote which overturned the 32-year old ban on handguns in D.C., the NRA intended to convince gun owners to vote against candidate Barack Obama.

"Our members understand how bad Barack Obama is on the second amendment. We look forward to showing him 'bitter,' said NRA's Chris Cox. 

For the fall, the group planned robocalls, mail pieces, pre-election editions of their three magazines, and TV, radio and newspaper ads.

People vs. Corporations

On June 19, 2008, the Obama campaign announced it would opt out of public financing and instead put its "faith in ordinary people" to give what they could afford. The campaign saw the decision as an opportunity to prove that a movement of people could change the way campaigns are funded. Read more in the new book, King's Dream.

In 2010, the Supreme Court struck down a law that prohibited corporations from spending on "electioneering communications." As of this writing, one wealthy casino magnate has contributed over 40 million dollars to conservative candidates and causes in the 2012 campaign.

It will take 400,000 people giving $100 each to match that one corporate gift.