Independent spending takes back seat in 2008 race

By Andy Sullivan - Analysis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Could the Swift Boats remain at anchor this year?

Independent political groups like Swift Boat Veterans for Truth that spent millions of dollars on attack ads in 2004's presidential race have so far kept a low profile this time around, leaving the stage largely to Republican candidate John McCain and his Democratic rival, Barack Obama.

Analysts say these groups are not likely to play as prominent a role as they did in 2004, when the Swift Boat group questioned Democratic candidate John Kerry's Vietnam War service with devastating effect and liberal groups like the Media Fund spent $48 million attacking President George W. Bush.

Both Obama and McCain have said they want these outside groups, known as 527s for the section of the tax code under which they're organized, to stay out of the race for the November 4 presidential election.

"If you're a 527 preparing to get involved in the race, you have to prepare to be scolded by the candidate who will benefit the most from your efforts," said Evan Tracey of the Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks political advertising.

Many donors, fearful of alienating their preferred candidate, have taken notice.

Several liberal 527s that had planned to spend heavily on TV advertising have said they will either shut down or concentrate on get-out-the vote efforts.

Big conservative donors have likewise stayed on the sidelines. T. Boone Pickens, who donated $2 million to the Swift Boats group in 2004, this year is focusing on a $58 million campaign to promote wind power and natural gas.