GOP groups taking stock after $380 million loss

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Sasha, front left, and Malia, walk from Marine One to board Air Force One at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago, the day after the presidential election. Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

By BETH FOUHY

Associated Press / November 10, 2012

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Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, defended the groups’ emphasis on TV advertising in the 2012 election.

But he said Republicans need to recruit better candidates up and down the ballot and make structural changes such as improving their field operations to boost their chances in future races

‘‘We need a deeper, stronger bench and we need to better message our issues and principles. The Romney campaign should have done this and outside groups should have done this,’’ Phillips said.

Fred Wertheimer, a longtime campaign finance reform advocate, predicted that super PACs and other outside groups would be back with a vengeance.

‘‘Some millionaires and billionaires will throw up their hands as a result of this election and say, ‘I don’t want to do this.’ But other people with an interest in government decisions aren’t going to walk away from the corrupting influence this system provides,’’ Wertheimer said.

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