How 17 people funded the Republican super PAC world — in one chart (interactive)

[MindMover]

That the rise of super PACs has given a small number of wealthy donors an outsized level of influence in our political discourse isn’t a secret.

After all, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich wouldn’t have even been in the Republican primary game if it wasn’t for a supportive super PAC funded by casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. And super PACs supportive of Mitt Romney have kept him within financial shouting distance of President Obama in critical swing states like Florida and Virginia.

But, wrapping your arms around just how few people are behind these hyper-influential groups is always tough. Until now.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/how-17-people-funded-the-republican-super-pac-world--in-one-chart/2012/07/17/gJQAKc6hrW_blog.html

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Here's the graphic:

[rrneck]

3. Lookit all them red dots. nt

[JNelson6563]

2. Remember they equal 17 votes too.

We have to work hard to get every vote we can and make sure they're counted. There are more of us than there are of them.

Julie