TOP STORY: Politico's Jonathan Martin, based on blue-chip reporting, reveals that Republican third-party efforts have 'flatlined,' leaving Senator McCain more outmatched than ever: '[L]ess than five months before Election Day, there are no serious anti-Obama 527s in existence nor are there any immediate plans to create such a group. ... Multiple Republican sources say that Karl Rove has been in contact with donors such as [Sheldon] Adelson and [T. Boone] Pickens about helping to create an independent effort but that to date nothing has come of it. ...
'The reasons for inactivity on the right are many: tougher FEC regulations that make it more difficult to launch attacks that aren't tied to an issue, donor fatigue, lack of enthusiasm among Republicans for McCain, and a fear from both contributors and operatives of being painted as a racist in the first general election campaign in history that features an African American as a major party nominee.'
In reversing his promise to be bound by the limits of public financing, Obama blamed the 'smears and attacks from [McCain's] allies running so-called 527 groups, who will spend millions and millions of dollars in unlimited donations.'
If you find them, tell Karl.