THE BILLION-DOLLAR CAMPAIGN

Today's story is the first installment of a year-long Star Tribune examination of the role of money in U.S. and Minnesota politics. That role is changing and ever-increasing as spending by independent-groups rises (the focus of today's story); as congressional and state contests attract more and more cash from around the country, and as new technologies alter and enhance the fundraising efforts of campaigns.

Watch for additional reports in the months ahead.