Corporate Influence through the Super PAC

Both parties have begun using television ads aimed at highlighting the negative characteristics of the other candidate for the 2012 Presidential election.  Most recently, Democrats are trying to tie Mitt Romney to oil companies and the wealthy interests that back them.  In this 30 second ad the Democrats accuse Romney of being a “$200 million man” who has dirty, oil fingerprints surrounding his interests. 

My main interest in this ad was that a super PAC (Priorities USA Action) has financed it.  Super PACs were one of the products of the decision in the Citizens United (2010) case that set new standards for campaign finance.  The concept of the super PAC is that it isn’t directly associated to a specific candidate.  Clearly there ways around this concept.  It will be interesting to see how ads and media play an increased role as the campaign progresses. 

The invention of the super PAC and campaign finance reform as a whole plays an important role in Congressional gridlock.  Currently corporations and corporate entities have the right to spend unlimited monetary contributions for a campaign which is usually utilized through super PACS like Priorities USA Action.  As candidates rely more heavily on corporate contribution they take a more definitive political stance based on these interests drifting further apart from compromise. 

I am interested to know how large a role super PACs are going to play as the election progresses and how much they will add to the current gridlock we face.  Will corporate contribution further fuel this partisan divide until November?