/ Modified may 17, 2012 6:20 p.m.

Outside Dollars a Gift in CD8 Race

Nearly $1M in Super PAC funding has come in on both sides

Money spent by Super PACs and other outside groups has already topped $120 million, says a new report from the Sunlight Foundation.

In the race for Congressional District 8, outside money is approaching the $1 million mark.

Outside groups are running ads against both Democrat Ron Barber and Republican Jesse Kelly. Barber says the outside money is driving up the cost of campaigning. Kelly says he welcomes the outside ads because he says they help to set the record straight.

Kathy Kiely with the Sunlight Foundation points out that the outside groups give candidates political cover. She says the Super PACs and others act as a candidate's “evil twin” because the outside groups run negative ads while the candidates can stay positive.

The next campaign finance reports for CD8 are due May 31.

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