Nonprofit Campaign Spending Down Overall in 2008

Among the top 527 supporters of Democrats were: AFSCME Special Account, $30.6 million; Service Employees International Union, $27.4 million; and America Votes Inc. and Friends of America Votes with $24 million.

While the spending was down overall from four years ago, it will likely paying big dividends for the donors in the long run, according to Steve Weissman, associate director of policy at the Campaign Finance Institute.