Their names roll off the tongue with a patriotic cadence: Freedom's Watch, Democracy Alliance, Citizens United, Progress for America, Foundation for a Secure and Prosperous America. They're the new giants of American politics, and in one way or another, operating largely in the untested margins of federal election law, they aim to influence the outcome of the 2008 presidential election. As 527 groups and other independent organizations spend millions of dollars on advertisements and other election activity, the Center for Public Integrity examines where they came from and why they're becoming an increasingly popular tool for political operatives. Sara Fritz, a veteran journalist who helped pioneer the campaign finance beat, investigated these groups for the Center's Buying of the President 2008 project.

Their names roll off the tongue with a patriotic cadence: Freedom's Watch, Democracy Alliance, Citizens United, Progress for America, Foundation for a Secure and Prosperous America. They're the new giants of American politics, and in one way or another, operating largely in the untested margins of federal election law, they aim to influence the outcome of the 2008 presidential election. As 527 groups and other independent organizations spend millions of dollars on advertisements and other election activity, the Center for Public Integrity examines where they came from and why they're becoming an increasingly popular tool for political operatives. Sara Fritz, a veteran journalist who helped pioneer the campaign finance beat, investigated these groups for the Center's Buying of the President 2008 project.