The Kochs in recent years have emerged as a leading force in American politics thanks to a network of affluent donors the brothers convened to fund a series of nonprofit advocacy groups. Now overseen by an umbrella outfit called Freedom Partners, the network, spearheaded by the aggressive group Americans for Prosperity, spent around $290 million during the midterms, playing a pivotal role in softening up vulnerable incumbent Democratic senators such as North Carolina's Kay Hagan and Colorado's Mark Udall with tough ads linking them to the unpopular President Barack Obama.
As the network's spending soared, so too did liberal scrutiny of the brothers, with Reid assailing them on the Senate floor as " un-American" oil barons who are trying "to buy our democracy." His repeated premeditated attacks on the Kochs emboldened Brock's group and eventually others to pick up the beat. And Reid suggested to allies Tuesday night that his intended target may have been Republican politicians as opposed to voters. His thinking, according to an operative close to him is that, despite Democratic big money gains in 2014, the party will never be able to keep pace with the Kochs and other conservative donors, so making them toxic to Republican politicians is the best hope for tamping down the unlimited cash race.
Some liberals involved in the Koch attacks argue that the strategy may have helped win one Senate race — Democrat Gary Peters victory over Republican Terri Lynn Land in Michigan — and kept others close.
There could also be additional incentive to keep up the Koch attacks for American Bridge and other Democrat-aligned groups preparing for a Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. Not only is she is expected to come under fire from the Koch political network, but she has long shown a fascination with the funders of the conservative movement — and sources say that interest extends to the Kochs.