IEs. ‘Independent expenditures.’

That’s the money that groups theoretically unaffiliated with a campaign spend (usually on paid media). The preferred form of those groups in the post ‘Citizens United’ (look it up and weep for our democracy) world are so-called ‘Super PACS’ which have virtually unlimited ability to raise and spend (often secret) money.

Romney has the support of a bunch and they hammered Gingrich hard once he took the lead. Romney was able to maintain rhetorical distance while pro-Romney groups attacked the Newt.

Newt’s failure to build a campaign infrastructure (which these days has to include supposedly unaffiliated Super PACs) means that he has struggled to respond.

And so, Newt, like all the rest, falls.

I kind of thought he wouldn’t fall, at least not until racking up some wins.

I underestimated the role that these outside groups would play in the new world of campaign finance. And now, I’m terrified of how things will work in the future, now the campaign finance limits are very nearly meaningless.