Special interest money pouring in

And. They’re. Off!

The Clarion-Ledger had a pair of articles this weekend about special interest money in the Supreme Court races.

The first, from Saturday, looks at what Kitch and his opponents have raised.

Although it appears Kitchens has collected $10,000 more than Smith, the figures are misleading, says Kitchens’ campaign manager, Sam Hall.

Hall said pro-business special interest groups have raised almost $600,000, and some of that money has gone to support Smith’s re-election campaign.

The outside money doesn’t have to be listed on Smith’s campaign finance report, Hall said. Hall pointed out that outside special interest groups have been running ads supporting Smith.

The second, from Sunday, details how special interest groups have released a diluge of money into Mississippi in an attempt to buy these races.

Another group, Improve Mississippi Political Action Committee, reported $573,203 in contributions, much of it coming from PACs for Mississippi doctors, bankers, manufacturers and Realtors. The biggest contribution – $125,000 – came from the American Justice Partnership.

…

“Jim Smith likes to use the phrase he wants to throw the moneychangers out of the temple, but the moneychangers are spending more than half a million dollars to support him and some of his friends in other districts,” Hall said.

[Smith political consultant Morgan] Baldwin responded that more than half of Kitchens’ contributions have come from trial lawyers.

I love hypocrisy, don’t you?