Post-Citizens United Dark Money Explosion -- Outside Spending Surpasses $1 Billion for First Time (2012-01-01)

Total outside spending in the 2012 presidential election cycle exceeded $1 billion for the first time in American history, driven by the Citizens United v. FEC and SpeechNow.org v. FEC rulings. Dark money spending by 501(c)(4) nonprofits increased from $69 million in 2008 to $310 million in 2012. American Crossroads spent $105 million and Crossroads GPS spent $70.8 million. The flood-the-zone spending infrastructure created by Citizens United was now fully operational, fundamentally reshaping the American campaign finance landscape.