One initial observation: the incredible influx of small donors into the presidential campaigns is fantastic.  The Obama campaign this cycle was the first to involve so many more small donors than ever before, fueled in large part by the internet making campaign giving easier, and both Clinton and McCain's campaigns have seen a surge in small gifts, too.

But while the mainstream media highlights that small donor explosion, a story that's being swept under the rug is this: the same old thing is still happening.

That is, major donors and powerful interests are still dominating the money primary for Senate races around the country, and in fact, their role is increasing even as the role of small donors increases in the presidential race.  I've documented how the small donor explosion is masking the continued role of major donors in the presidential race, but I find the Congressional issue more insidious.  Because few are paying attention while large donors out-contribute small donors by a factor at least six to one in Senate races, and you can bet the same dynamic applies to House races.  In other words, regardless of who the next President is, he or she will still need to pass laws through a Congress that was elected on the strength of wealthy donors financing their campaigns.

Luckily, the Campaign Finance Institute has crunched the numbers and painted this picture of the early Senate money primaries in stark relief: