As observers monitor whether the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC will have an affect on spending in the 2010 election, recent news indicates that regardless if it's because of the ruling, spending is increasing.

The Wall Street Journal ($$) details a new report from the Campaign Media Analysis Group, which found that "advocacy groups seeking to influence elections have spent a total of $62 million thus far in the 2009-10 election season."

Outside political groups have spent three times as much on political advertisements for the 2010 midterm elections as they had at the same point in 2006—an early sign both liberal and conservative groups plan to play a bigger role than ever in this year's congressional races. At the same point in the previous midterm election, outside groups had funded a total of $22 million in television ads.

The article faults the increase of conservative advocacy groups last year for the rise in spending. "In the past few months, a half-dozen new conservative organizations have announced plans to raise tens of millions of dollars to try to influence this year's congressional elections." And many liberal groups will continue to spend to try and influence elections but, "it isn't clear which side has the spending edge."

Meanwhile, the Washington Times reports that "congressional candidates appear to be on track to spend less on their campaigns for the second straight election cycle."