Abboud, Andy, 18
Abortion issue, 6, 130, 225, 237
and abortion rights groups, 33, 63, 154, 206
and religious conservative opposition, 7, 202, 223, 225
Adelson, Sheldon, 18, 19, 22, 38, 39–40, 44, 132, 218, 228
and Bush, George W., 78
and 2012 Republican presidential primary, 77–81, 83, 86, 87, 89–90, 93–94, 95–96
and Freedom’s Watch, 43
and Gingrich, Newt, 77, 78, 79–81, 86, 87, 89–90, 93–94, 247
and Koch seminar, Indian Wells (winter 2012), 91
and Obama, Barack, 47
and Republican Jewish Coalition, 109
and Romney, Mitt, 89–90, 93–94
Aegis Strategic, 202
AFP. See Americans for Prosperity
AFP Knocks, 126–127
Akin, Todd, 172, 187, 188, 189, 222
Alaska First, 217–218
America Votes, 206
American Action Network, 47–48, 49, 50, 53, 221
American Bridge, 158, 176, 206, 230, 233
American Crossroads, 47, 49–52, 53, 73, 120–121, 147, 170, 177
Conservative Victory Project, 189–190
and election 2014, 222
and election 2012 disappointment, reasons for, 190
Freedom’s Watch as model for, 43
and Koch political network, 4, 5, 54
and 2012 Pennsylvania ad strategy, 177
and post-election 2012 expansion, 189
and post-election 2012 future plans, 188–191
and Republican National Convention breakfast, 171–176
secrecy of, 50–51
summit, Washington, DC (“The Republican Future,” October 2013), 19, 211–219
See also Crossroads GPS
American Energy Alliance, 125
American Future Fund, 132
Americans for Job Security, 132
Americans for Limited Government, 133
Americans for Prosperity (AFP), 53, 119–128, 132, 144, 147, 217
and election 2012, 6
and express versus issue advocacy, 120
and government shutdown, 210, 220
and North Carolina, ground organizing in, 123–124, 126–128
and opposition to Obama, Barack, 123–125
and paid ground troops, recruitment of, 126
and post-election 2012, 200
and reception (Tampa, Florida) honoring Koch, David, and Pope, Art, 139–144
and Republican Party, 124
staffing level of, 124
and Themis voter database, 125, 126–127
and voter mobilization canvassing, 126–128
Americans for Responsible Leadership (ARL), 93, 200–201
Angelos, Peter, xiii
Aniston, Jennifer, 72
Anschutz, Phil, xii–xiii
ARL. See Americans for
Responsible Leadership
Armey, Dick, 136
Bachmann, Michele, 80
Bain Capital, 89–90, 104, 149, 152
Baker, James, 117
Baldwin, Tammy, 142
Ballmer, Steve, vii, ix, 75, 76, 243
Barbour, Haley, 165–166, 172–174, 214, 215–216
Barnett, Bob, 44
Bauer, Gary, 224
Beeson, Rich, 118, 195–196, 197
Begala, Paul, 71, 76, 157–158, 176, 183
and fund-raising, 152, 154, 155, 156
Begich, Mark, 218
Bekenstein, Joshua, 152–153
Benghazi, Libya, attack on American diplomatic compound, 215, 234–235
Berger, Daniel, 155
Blackstone, 152
Blackwater, 10
Blakeman, Bradley, 38–39, 41, 43
Bloomberg, Michael, 4, 204–205, 225
Bloomberg BusinessWeek, 171, 175
BlueSwarm, 105
Boehner, John, 23, 138, 139, 157
and government shutdown (October 2013), 209, 211, 212
and mega-donors, 245
and Obamacare, 221
and tea party, clashes with, 213
Bon Jovi, Jon, 155–156
Booker, Cory, 225
Boozman, John, 141
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Romney campaign fund-raising call day (January 2007) 103
Britt, Mike, 18
Brock, David, 63, 72–73, 158, 232–233, 233–235
and Democracy Alliance, 67
and outside groups, 17
Brooks, Matt, 43
Brotman, Jeff and Susan, vii
Brownback, Sam, 207
Budinger, Bill, 61
Buell, Susie Tompkins, 63–64, 230, 237
Bunning, Jim, 28
Burke, Mary, 239
Burton, Bill, 17–18, 69–70, 71, 76, 111
and fund-raising, 152, 154–155, 156
Bush, George H. W., 28, 29, 44–45
Bush, George W., 29, 37–38, 53, 78, 150, 173
and election 2002, 130
Bush (George W.) administration, 40
Butler, Anthea, 142
Caddell, Pat, 45, 192–193, 198
Cain, Herman, 80
California Public Records Act, 13
Campaign finance reform, x, 28–30
and lawyers, Washington political, 18
and maximum allowable contribution, 31
and big-money era, 244–248
and Obama, Barack, 64–65, 246–247
and party power, erosion of, 15–17
and Watergate scandal, 27
See also Citizens United; McCain-Feingold; Public financing system
Campaign to Defend America, 67–68
Canary, Cynthia, 246–247
Cancer Treatment Centers of America, 203
Cantor, Eric, 157
Capito, Shelley Moore, 19, 216
Carlson, Tucker, 10n
Carter, Jimmy, 115
Cassidy, Bill, 19, 216, 217, 220
Castellini, Bob, 172
Cause donors, 34–35. See also Donors
Cavuto, Neil, 166
Center for American Progress, 63
Center for Shared Services, 125
Center to Protect Patient Rights (CPPR), 125, 131, 200–201
Chamber of Commerce, 19, 49, 147, 219
Cheney, Mary, 225n
Chocola, Chris, 214
Christie, Chris, 91–93, 98, 200
CitizenLink, 136
Citizens for a Sound Economy, 130, 136
Citizens for the Republic PAC, 20
Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, x, 33–34, 47, 49, 50, 55, 229, 246
and Democratic Party, 225–226
and election 2016, 230–231
and express versus issue advocacy, 120
and Obama, Barack, viii, 37, 57, 57n, 69, 74, 76, 150, 243–244
and Romney, Mitt, 106
and Spies, Charlie, 108
See also Campaign finance reform
Citizens United (nonprofit group), 229
Clark, Ed, 129
Clinton, Bill, 29, 68, 149, 176, 207, 246
and election 1992, 71
and election 1996, 64–66
and fund-raising, 155–156, 161, 226–228
and election 2008, 63–64, 65–68, 226, 232
and election 2016, xi, 19, 226, 229–237, 238, 241
and election 2012, hoped-for primary challenge, 60
Club for Growth, 42, 210, 214, 220
Club for Growth Action Fund, 222
Cochran, Thad, 210
Coie, Perkins, 18
Collins, Rob, 48
Common Purpose Project, 146
Commonwealth PACs, 101–102, 104, 105
Confessore, Nick, 217
Congressional Leadership Fund, 221, 222
Conservative Action Project, and Ritz Carlton summit (Arlington, Virginia, December 2013), 223–224
Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC; National Harbor convention center, March 2013), 192–193
Conservative Victory Project, American Crossroads, 189–190, 190–191, 214
Consultants, x, xii, xiii, 16–17, 48, 190
and election 2012, Republican analysis of, 199–200
and election 2012 Republican defeat, blame for, 191–198
and political system, reordering of, 15
See also specific consultants
Coors family, 62
Coplen, Keith, 19–20
Corporations, 16, 28, 244. See also Citizens United
Costco, vii
CPAC. See Conservative Political Action Conference
CPPR. See Center to Protect Patient Rights
Crane, Ed, 129
Crank, Jeff, 202
Crocks, Inc., 3
Crossroads. See American Crossroads
Crossroads GPS, 52–54, 169, 173, 222. See also American Crossroads
Crossroads Media, 195
Crow, Harlan, 48
Cuccinelli, Ken, 197
Daily Kos, 87
Database project (Narwhal), of Obama campaign, 148
Davis, Wendy, 19, 237, 238–239
DeMint, Jim, 202
Democracy Alliance, 55–64, 67, 68, 72–73, 146
annual dues and minimum donations, 62
concept, 62–63
and election 2014, 228
and Ickes, Harold, 71
post-election 2012 (annual winter meeting), 205–207
Democracy Alliance conference (Laguna Beach, California, April 2011), 72
Democracy Alliance fund-raiser (St. Regis Hotel, Washington, DC, January 2012), 73–74, 75
Democracy Alliance meeting (2005), 63
Democracy Alliance meeting (Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Washington, D.C., November 2013), 231–232, 237–241
Democracy Alliance meeting (Mandarin Oriental Hotel, November 2010), 55–61
Democratic Governors Association fundraiser (Charlotte, NC, September 2012), 158–159
Democratic National Committee, 28, 146
Democratic National Convention (Charlotte, NC, September 2012), 156
”Super-O-Rama” super PAC fund-raiser, 160, 161–162
Democratic Senate super PAC, Majority PAC, 217
Democrats/Democratic Party
and Citizens United, 225–226
and election 2012, analysis of, 183, 203–208
ideological unity of, 183
liberal wing of, 225, 228–229, 237–238
and relationship with labor unions, trial lawyers and Hollywood, 153
and super PACs, 156–157, 176–177, 183, 205–206
Dinneen, Jim, 152
Donors
cause donors, 34–35
motivation of, xii–xiii, 20–23, 239–240
and sports team owners, overlap between, xii–xiii
See also Mega-donors
DreamWorks Animation, 71
Dubke, Michael, 18, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198
Dukakis, Michael, 107
Duncan, Bobby, 25
Duncan, Mike, 25–35, 47, 52–53, 70–71, 170, 188–189
Durbin, Dick, 159
eBay, 103
Eisen, Norm, 66
Election 1980, 115
Election 1988, 107
Election 1992, 71
Election 1996, 64–65
Election 2002, 130
Election 2004, 30–31, 56, 58, 61–62
Election 2008, 15, 32, 42–43, 104, 132, 151, 165, 229, 237
and Clinton, Hillary, 63–64, 65–68, 226, 232
and Democracy Alliance, 63–64
and Freedom’s Watch, 39
and Romney, Mitt, 102–105
Election 2010, xi, 5, 47–48, 53–54, 55, 69, 227, 247
Election 2012, 5, 77–96, 149, 228, 232
and Adelson, Sheldon, 77–81, 83, 86, 87, 89–90, 93–94, 95–96
analysis of, and Democratic Party, 183, 203–208
analysis of, and Republican Party, 181–203
and hoped-for Clinton primary challenge, 60
contributions, small versus big donor, 19
dollars spent, 181–182
election predictions/results, 177–179
and Freiss, Foster, 83–88, 89, 93, 95–96
fund-raising, Obama allies/campaign, 145–162
and Gingrich, Newt, 77–82, 86, 87, 88, 89–90, 93–95, 111
and Hubbard, Stan, 187–188
and Obama, Barack, 2, 6, 75–76, 94, 110–111, 112
and Obama victory, 178–179
and Obama/Romney debate, 146
and outside spending, 15
commission to study, and Republican Party, 184–185
and Pennsylvania ad strategy, 177–178
and polls, 81, 82, 84, 86, 146, 168, 169, 170, 171, 177, 184,
and Republican National Committee, 6, 198–199
and Republican outside groups, role of, 198–199
and Romney, Mitt, 6, 78, 81–83, 85–87, 88–90, 93–96, 105–111, 111–118
and Romney defeat, explanations for, 186–188, 190, 191–198
and Rove, Karl, 6–7, 95, 177, 178–179, 186–188, 247
and Santorum, Rick, 83–88, 93–95, 111
and Simmons, Harold, 78
and Soros, George, 60
and super PACs, 77–78, 81–83, 86–91, 93–96
Election 2013, 203–204
Election 2014, 5, 20, 204, 210–222, 216
Election 2016, 19, 93, 111, 211, 220–221
and Citizens United, 230–231
and Clinton, Hillary, xi, 229–237, 238, 241
and Democratic Party, 225–241
and Democratic Party, liberal wing of, 237–241
Ellegard, Ken, 2
Emanuel, Rahm, 159–160
Enron, 246
Environmental activists and groups, 33, 58, 63, 238
Erickson, Erick, 2, 191–192, 194, 197–198, 199–200
Esprit, 64
Fang, Lee, 138
Farr, Chris, 124, 126, 127–128
Federal Election Commission, 27, 30–31, 40, 110, 193–194, 229, 246
Fehrnstrom, Eric, 118
Fieler, Sean, 224–225
Fikes, Lee and Amy, 153
Financial Times, 138
Fischer, Bob, 223
Flaherty, Peter, 110
Fleischer, Ari, 40–41
Forti, Carl, 18, 41, 47, 48, 52–53, 107, 110, 192, 194, 196, 197, 212
Fox News, 6, 166, 169, 177, 178
Free and Strong America, 105
Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, 125, 131
Freedom’s Watch, 38–44, 48, 132
FreedomWorks, 70, 178, 184, 202–203, 210, 220, 222
Friess, Foster, 21, 91, 94, 132, 228
and election 2012, 83–88, 89, 93, 95–96
Friends of Democracy, 206
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 103
and Burton, Bill, 152, 154–155, 156
and Bush, George W., 150
and Clinton, Bill, 155–156, 161, 226–228
Democracy Alliance (St. Regis Hotel), 73–74, 75
Democratic Governors Association (Charlotte, NC), 158–159
Democratic National Convention (“Super-O-Rama”), 160, 161–162
and joint fund-raising committee, 111–112, 146–148, 150, 168
Newseum (2013), 227–228
and Obama, Barack, 150, 152, 154, 155, 156
and Obama, Barack (Medina, Washington, February 2012), vii, 241
Obama allies/campaign, election 2012, 145–162
Priorities USA, Charlotte, 158–159, 160–161
and Romney, Mitt, damaging remarks at, 112–115
and Romney, Mitt, Deer Valley three-day donor retreat, 117–118
and Romney, Mitt, Palm Beach, Florida, 2012, 112–113
and Romney, Mitt, system of, 103, 104
and Romney, Mitt/Romney team, 97–98, 101–118, 146–147, 148, 168
and Soros, George, 155
and Vachon, Michael, 155
See also specific fund-raisers
Gage, Katie Packer, 118, 195, 196, 197–198
Gallas, Glenn, 135
Gapper, John, 138
Gatekeepers for rich donors, 18
Gates, Bill, vii, viii–ix, 75, 76, 241, 243, 244
Gawker, 11
and religious right, 202, 223, 225
and Koch brothers, 130, 143, 144
General Motors, 158
Generation Opportunity, 125, 200
Gibbs, Robert, 70
Gillespie, Ed, 34, 35, 47, 48, 49–50
Gingrich, Callista, 163–164
Gingrich, Newt, xi–xii, 163–164
and Adelson, Sheldon, 77, 78, 79–81, 86, 87, 89–90, 93–94, 247
and election 2012, 77–82, 86, 87, 88, 89–90, 93–95, 111
Ginsberg, Ben, 101–102, 106, 108, 109, 110
Giuliani, Rudy, 103
Golden Circle of California, 20
Goldman, Amy, 154–155
Government shutdown (October 2013), 209–221
and bipartisan deal, 219–221
Graham, Lindsey, 210
Grayson, Alan, 239–240
Green, Adam, 238–239
Haberman, Maggie, 77
Hagen, Kay, 223
Hamm, Harold, 91
Hanks, Tom, 72
Hanna, Mark, 39, 45, 109, 171, 245
Hardee’s, 166
Hayek, Friedrich, 130
Hayward, Steven F., 135
Heritage Action for America, 202–203, 210, 220
Heritage Foundation, 202–203, 220
Hess, Lawrence and Suzanne, 61, 238
Hitler, Adolf, 143–144
Holden, Mark, 201
Home Depot, 97
Horton, Willie, ad, 107
House Majority PAC, 158, 176, 206
Hoyer, Steny, 159
HRC. See Human Rights Campaign
Hubbard, Stan, 14–15, 92, 170–171, 178, 184, 187–188
Huffington Post, 59
Human Rights Campaign (HRC), 116
Huntsman, Jon, Sr., 78, 89, 103
Ickes, Harold, 17, 30, 63, 67, 69, 71, 232, 233
Independence USA, 204
Institute for Justice, 130
Internal Revenue Service, 40, 43, 193–194
Isakson, Johnny, 210
Israel, Steve, 159
Jackson, E. W., 197
Jackson, Jesse, 67
Jafri, Rafi, 236–237
James, Tony, 152
Jindal, Bobby, 6, 19, 211, 212
Johnson, Ron, 2, 8, 9–10n, 141–142, 234
Johnson, Woody, xii–xiii
Johnston, Teddy, 71
Joint fund-raising committee, 111–112, 146–148, 150, 168
Jordan, Wayne, 61
Kasich, John, 4, 6, 19, 211, 212
Katzenberg, Jeffrey, 18, 21, 71–72
Keep America Safe, 49
Kelly, Megyn, 178
Kendrick, Ken, xii–xiii
Kennedy, Caroline, 134
Kerpen, Phil, 191
Kerry, John, ix, 4, 30, 54, 203–204
Keystone XL oil pipeline, 58, 204
Kibbe, Matt, 203
Kissinger, Henry, 92
Koch, Charles, 91–92
and California Fair Political Practices Commission investigation, 201–202
personal life of, 133
See also Koch brothers
Koch, David, 91–92
AFP reception honoring (Tampa, Florida), 139–144
and Libertarian Party, 143–144
personal life of, 133–134
and Republican Party, 143–144
as vice presidential nominee for Libertarian Party, 129
views of, versus Republican views, 144
See also Koch brothers
Koch, Fred, 128
Koch, William, 128
Koch brothers, xii–xiii, 1–15, 61, 62
and Axelrod, David, 54
and Christie, Chris, 91–93
ideological motivation of, 129–130, 132
and Libertarian Party, 129–130
libertarian principles of, 139
media strategy of, 10–14
and Obama, Barack, viii, 76, 118, 119–120, 132–133, 244
and Obamacare, 133
political evolution of, 128–144
protests against, 138–139
and Republicans/Republican Party, 124, 137–138, 143–144
and Romney, Mitt, 119
and tea party, 5, 10–11, 46–47, 124, 134–136, 138–139
See also Koch, Charles; Koch, David; Koch Industries; Koch operation; specific Koch seminars, and summit(s)
Koch Industries, 10–12, 129, 130
Koch operation
and Americans for Prosperity, 46, 119–128, 130
basic model of, 125–126
changes in, post-election 2012, 200–203
and Club for Growth, 42
and Democracy Alliance, similarity between, 61
and election 2012, analysis of, 199–200
and Freedom’s Watch, 42–43
and California Fair Political Practices Commission investigation, 200–202
and Obamacare, 222–223
and religious right, 224
versus Rove operation, 5–6
sophistication of, 125
and Wellspring Committee, 42–43, 131–132
Koch seminar (Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 2013), 19, 216
Koch seminar (Indian Wells, California, April 2013), 1–4, 6–10, 12, 14, 199
Koch seminar (Indian Wells, California, January 29, 2012–January 31, 2012), 91, 93
Koch seminar (Rancho Mirage, California, January 2011), 7–8, 138–139
Koch seminar (San Diego, California, June 2012, “Path to Freedom”), 118
Koch seminar (Vail, Colorado, June 2011), 91–92
Kolhatkar, Sheelah, 171, 175–176
Kyl, Jon, 141
Labor unions, 16, 28, 30, 38, 65, 114, 124, 126, 127, 153, 200, 201, 216, 232,
LaMarche, Gara, 238
Landrieu, Mary, 216
Lapp, John and Ali, 109
Lasry, Marc, 155
Laudner, Chuck, 85
Lauer, Matt, 74
Lavine, Jonathan, 152
Law, Steven, 34, 47, 50, 211, 212
Lawyers, Washington political, and campaign finance reform, 18
Leaders for Family Values, 86
Lee, Mike, 211
Levine, Risa, 235
Lewis, Cordelia, 128
Lewis, Peter, 4, 30, 31, 58, 61–62, 76
Libertarian Party, 129–130, 143–144
Libre Initiative, The, 125, 136
Limbaugh, Rush, 193
Lugar, Richard, 190
Luntz, Frank, 163–164
Lynch, Stephen, 204
Malek, Fred, 47, 48, 49, 50, 221–222
Manchester United, xiii
Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Democracy Alliance meetings 19, 55–61, 69, 231–232, 237–239, 241
Marriott, John Willard, 99
Marriott, Tampa, Florida, Romney donor “Freedom and Opportunity Reception” at, 163–167
Martinez, Mel, 31
Maximus, 158
Mayer, Jane, 11
and election 2008, 32, 42, 67–68, 104
McCain-Feingold, 15–16, 29–31, 34, 246. See also Campaign finance
reform
McCarthy, Larry, 110
McConnell, Mitch, 27, 210, 212, 214, 217, 219–221, 245
McFadden, Mike, 19, 213–214, 218–219
McGovern, George, 26
McKay, Anna Hawken, 58, 61–62, 73
McKay, Rob, 58, 63, 67, 72–73, 73–74, 205, 228, 237
McKinley, William, ix, 39, 171, 245
Meese, Ed, 223–224
Meet the Press, 92
Mega-donors
and campaign finance reform, 244–248
and election 2012, x–xi, xi–xii
motivation of, xii
political influence of, vii–ix, 243–244
See also Donors
Melaleuca, 116
Mercatus Center, George Mason University, 129, 130
Messina, Jim, 17, 70, 75, 145–148, 150, 159, 161, 162, 207–208
and Democracy Alliance meeting (Mandarin Oriental Hotel, winter 2010), 57, 58, 59
Microsoft, vii
Miller, Bill, 49
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 142
Mises, Ludwig von, 130
Mitchell, Andrea, 88
Moffatt, Zac, 18, 41, 48, 194, 196, 197, 198
Mostyn, Steve and Amber, 23, 153–154, 183, 206, 236–237, 238–239
Mother Jones, 113, 115, 116–117, 139
Mourdock, Richard, 188, 189, 190, 203, 222
Musser, Phil, 103–104
Narwhal. See Database project (Narwhal), of Obama campaign
National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), 210
New Republic, 231
New York Magazine, 135
New York Post, 11
New York Times, 94, 118, 169, 177, 217
New Yorker, 11
Newell, Peter, 147
Newseum donor event (2013), 227–228
Nixon, Richard, ix, 26–27, 245
Noble, Sean, 53, 54, 93, 136, 137, 200, 201, 224
Norman, Richard, 224
NRCC. See National Republican Congressional Committee
Obama, Barack, 18, 47, 72, 74, 150, 183
and big-money groups, 66–67
and campaign finance reform, 64–65, 246–247
and Citizens United, viii, 37, 57, 57n, 69, 74, 76, 150, 243–244
and constitutional amendment, and mega-donors, 244
and Democracy Alliance, 76
and Democracy Alliance fund-raiser (St. Regis Hotel), 73–74, 75
and Democracy Alliance meeting (Mandarin Oriental Hotel, winter 2010), 56–58
and election 2008, 32, 42, 63–64, 65–68, 151, 165, 226
and election 2012, 2, 6, 75–76, 94, 110–111, 112
and election 2012 victory, 178–179
and government shutdown (October 2013), 53, 209, 212
and joint fund-raising committee, 112, 146
and Koch brothers, viii, 76, 118, 119–120, 132–133, 244
on mega-donors, vii–ix, 243–244
and Obamacare, 53
and Organizing for Action, 227
and Priorities USA, 75
and private Q&A session (Medina, Washington, February 2012), vii–ix, 243–244
and public financing system, 64, 68, 165
and Scaramucci, Anthony, 173
and Simmons, Harold, 83
and super PACs, 69–70, 74–75, 75–76, 107, 147, 150
and Vote Hope 2008, 66–67
Obama for America, 146, 160, 161
Obama team/campaign
and database project (Narwhal), 148
donor handbook, 161–162
and election 2012 fund-raising, 145–162
joint fund-raising committee, 146–148, 150
and Wall Street donors, 151
Obama Victory Fund, 146
Obamacare, 53, 133, 135, 209–210, 211, 214, 216, 221, 222–223
Obama/Romney debate, 146
Obenshain, Mark, 197
Occupy Wall Street protests, 89–90
O’Malley, Martin, 231
Organizing for Action, 207, 208, 227–228
Our Destiny, 88
Palin, Sarah, 80
Party system, erosion of, x, 5, 15–16, 28–29, 35, 168, 181, 182, 198, 202, 241
Patrick, Sean, 13
Paul, Rand, 4, 212, 220–221, 234–235
PayPal, 83
PCCC. See Progressive Change Campaign Committee
Pelosi, Nancy, 63, 159, 176, 183, 205, 237, 244–245
Penn, Mark, 233
Perot, Ross, Jr., 48
Phillips, Steve, 55, 63, 66–67, 68, 138
Phillips, Tim, 121, 136, 137–138, 141, 220
Phoenix Group, 62
Pickens, T. Boone, 48
Pompeo, Mike, 140
Pope, Art, 121–123, 125, 137, 139–140
Pope, Kathy, 140
Priebus, Reince, 8–9, 9–10n, 117, 163–164, 199
Priorities USA, 69–70, 71, 72–73, 75, 113–114, 147, 152–153, 155, 157, 176, 206, 208, 230, 233
and Charlotte fund-raisers, 158–159, 160–161
Privatization, of political system, 15, 43, 48, 186
Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), 238
Progressive insurance company, 76
Progressive Media, 67–68
Pryor, Mark, 204
Pryor, Pam, 224
Public financing system, 64, 68, 165
Public opinion polls, and role of money in politics, 245
Puzder, Andy, 166
Quinnipiac poll, 169
Ravel, Ann, 200–201
Ready for Hillary, 230, 231, 233, 234, 235–236, 237
Ready for Hillary meeting (Le Parker Meridien Hotel, New York, November 2013), 231, 232, 233–237
Red White and Blue Fund, 86, 88, 94, 95
Reese, Ron, 90
Reid, Harry, 18, 159, 183, 217, 244–245
Religious right, 7, 185, 223–225
Republican Governors Association (RGA), 102
Republican Jewish Coalition, 108–109
Republican National Committee, 6, 8–9, 28–29, 31–35, 48, 164, 198–199
Republican National Convention (2012)
Crossroads breakfast, 171–176
Freedom and Opportunity Reception, 163–168, 171
Republican State Leadership Committee, 48
Republicans/Republican Party, 132
commission to study election 2012, 184–185
and election 2012, analysis of, 181–203
and Koch political network, 124, 137–138, 143–144
and optimistic election forecasts, 168–169
and outside groups, role of, 198–199
post-election 2012, and ideological rift, 203
and tea party, power struggle with establishment, 211–223
See also Religious right; Tea party; under fund-raiser(s)/fund-raising
Restore Our Future, 81–83, 90, 107, 109–111, 117, 118, 147, 170
Resurgent Republic, 48
RGA. See Republican Governors Association
Rice, Condoleezza, 117, 165–166
Ritz Carlton, Conservative Action Project summit (Arlington, Virginia, December 2013), 223–224
Roche, Steve, 110
Rockefeller, Jay, 216
Romney, Ann, 174
Romney, George, 99
Romney, Josh, 166–168
and Adelson, Sheldon, 89–90, 93–94
and Americans for Prosperity, 119, 120, 123, 124,
and Bain Capital, 89–90, 104, 149
and Boston Convention and Exhibition Center fund-raising call day, 103
and Citizens United, 106
and Commonwealth PAC, 101–102
and donor-focused campaign, 112, 114–115
and donor retreat (Deer Valley, Summit County, Utah, June 2012), 117–118
and election 2008, 102–105
and election 2012, 6, 78, 81–83, 85–87, 88–90, 93–96, 105–111, 111–118
and election 2012 defeat, 188
family background of, 99
and “47 percent” remark, 113–114, 187
and fund-raiser (Boca Raton, Florida, May 2012), damaging remarks at, 113–115
and fund-raiser (Palm Beach, Florida, April 2012), damaging remarks at, 112–113
and fund-raising, 97–98, 101–118, 146–147
and fund-raising strategy, 103, 104
as governor of Massachusetts, 100–102
and joint fund-raising committee, 111–112, 148, 168
and Koch, David, 91, 139, 143, 144, 151
and Restore Our Future, 81–83
and SpeechNow vs. Federal Election Commission, 106
and super PACs, 75, 82–83, 97–98, 101–118, 147
Romney, Tagg, 105
Romney for President committee, 111, 117
Romney Victory committee, 111–112
Romney/Obama debate, 146
Roosevelt, Theodore, 245
Rosen, Phil, 109
Rosenthal, Steve, 30
Ross, Wilbur, 171
Rove, Darby, 45
Rove, Karl, 17, 32–33, 34, 35, 37–54, 73, 132
and American Action Network, 50
and American Crossroads, 4, 5, 41, 49–52, 188–189
and American Crossroads summit (“The Republican Future,” October 2013), 19, 211–212
and big-money fund-raising formula, 173
and big-money era, foresight into, 37–41, 47
and Bush, George H. W., 44–45
and Crossroads breakfast at Republican National Convention, 171–173
and conference call on 2012 election disappointment, 187–188
and donors, post-election 2012 reputation with, 189
and election 2002, 130
and election 2010, 53–54
and election 2012 defeat, 178–179
and election 2012 disappointment, explanations for, 186–188
and election 2012 polls, spinning of, 169, 171–172, 177–178
and Freedom’s Watch, 38–41, 43–44
and fund-raising strategy, 45, 48–49, 168–171
and Pennsylvania ad strategy, 177–178
and post-election 2012 issues, 6–7, 188–189
and Restore Our Future, 170
and Romney, Mitt, and three-day donor retreat at Deer Valley, 117, 118
and Scaramucci, Anthony, 175, 176
and Weaver Terrace coalition, 50–51, 53, 54, 137, 170
Rove operation
and election 2012, analysis of, 199–200
versus Koch operation, 5–6
and religious right, 224
Rowling, Robert, 48
Rubio, Marco, 105, 171, 211, 212, 221
Russo, Anthony, 125–126
Saban, Haim, 230
Sainz, Fred, 116
Santorum, Karen, 95
Santorum, Rick, xi–xii, 21, 83–88, 93–95, 111
Scaife family, 62
Scaramucci, Anthony, 173–176, 175n
Sembler, Mel, 78
Senate Conservatives Fund, 202–203, 210, 214, 220, 222
Shannon, T.W. 213.
Sharp, Rick, 3
Short, Marc, 51
Shumlin, Peter, 239
Silver, Nate, 177
Simmons, Annette, 94–95
Simmons, Harold, 21, 48–49, 78, 83, 94–95
Singer, Paul, 171, 176, 202, 219
SkyBridge Capital, 176
Smith, Clarence, 25
Smith, Craig T., 233
Smith, Will, 71
Snyder, Rick, 166
Solamere Capital, 105
Soptic, Joe, 149
Soros, George, ix, xiii, 4, 11–12, 18, 67, 73, 230
and Democracy Alliance meeting (Mandarin Oriental Hotel, November 2010), 55, 56, 58, 61
and Democrats’ super PACs, 176–177
and election 2004, 30, 31, 61–62
and fund-raising, 155
net worth of, 59
reputation of, 128
and two-day 2003 strategy session, 30
Soros, Jonathan, 206
Spahn, Andy, 18
SpeechNow vs. Federal Election Commission, 34, 106
Spies, Charlie, 106, 107–111, 118, 170, 230
Spies, Lisa, 108–109
Sports team owners, and donors, overlap between, xii–xiii
Stephenson, Dick, 203
Stewart, Rod, 237
Steyer, Tom, 4, 203–204, 205, 225, 238–239
Stone, Andy, 158
Stone, W. Clement, ix
Stryker, Patricia, 72–73
Sunlight Foundation, 139
Sununu, John, 90
Super PACs, 16, 17–18, 34, 110, 157
advertising-focused, 76
and Democrats/Democratic Party, 156–157, 176–177, 183, 205–206
and election 2012, 77–78, 81–83, 86–91, 93–96
and Obama, Barack, 69–70, 74–75, 75–76, 107, 147, 150
and Romney, Mitt, 75, 82–83, 97–98, 101–118, 147
See also specific super PACs
Sussman, Donald, 61
Sweeney, Sean, 69–70, 71, 72, 152
Swift Boat Veterans campaign, 30
Tappan, Rob, 10, 11, 12, 13–14, 93, 131, 201
and Americans for Prosperity, 134–135, 136
and election 2010, xi, 5, 46, 53, 138, 213
and election 2014 challenges, 210–222
and FreedomWorks, 134–135, 136
and government shutdown (October 2013), 209–211, 216
and Koch brothers, Koch political network, 5, 10–11, 46–47, 124, 134–136, 138–139
Tea Party Patriots, 222
Tedesco, Fred, 127–128
Themis voter database, 125, 126–127, 169–170
Thiel, Peter, 83
ThinkProgress, 138
Thompson, Tommy, 142–143
Tillis, Thom, 19, 140–141, 216–217
Toyota, 2
Vachon, Michael, 18, 59, 60, 73, 155, 176, 235
Vander Plaats, Bob, 86
VanderSloot, Frank, 97, 115–117, 185
Vote Hope 2008, 66–67
Walden, Greg, 210–211, 213, 221
Wall Street Journal, 148, 169, 177
Wallace, Chris, 179
Warren, Elizabeth, 19, 231–233, 235, 238, 240, 241, 273
Washington, Denzel, 72
Watergate scandal, 26–27
Waters, Alice, 158
Wayne, John, 20
Weatherford, Will, 213
Weaver Terrace Group, 50–51, 53, 54, 137, 170
Wellspring Committee, 42–43, 48, 125, 131–132
When Mitt Romney Came to Town (documentary), 89
Whitman, Meg, 103
Wiley, Rick, 131–132
Winning Our Future, 87, 89, 90, 95n
Wish, David, 118
Xi Jinping, 21
Yates, Al, 240
Young Guns Action Fund, 222
Zambrelli, Michael and Sharon, 151
Zeidman, Fred, 78
Zeskind, Leonard, 206–207