A new and powerful "super-PAC" tied to Republican strategist Karl Rove, fueled by out-of-state corporations and billionaires, is swooping into Florida to put its money behind front-runner Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate race.

American Crossroads spent nearly $250,000 so far on pro-Rubio mailings aimed at absentee voters, according to a report filed Tuesday with the Federal Elections Commission. The group can shell out unlimited money on Rubio's behalf, thanks to a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that allows corporations and wealthy individuals to funnel money directly to campaigns.

"This group is really at the forefront of this new phenomenon of super PACs," said Dave Levinthal, a spokesman for the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign watchdog group. "We've been saying that the Supreme Court decision would open up a brand-new avenue of money and influence, and we're seeing that very much come true."

American Crossroads is among a number of outside, special interest groups influencing the race for Florida's coveted open Senate seat and helping Rubio erode the fundraising edge held by Gov. Charlie Crist.

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American Crossroads raised more than $9.3 million between January and August, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Two of its largest donations came from the oil and gas industry. Rubio is the only candidate in the Senate race who favors expanding offshore oil drilling. Crist was once open to more oil exploration, but changed his position after the BP oil spill.

Another recent donation to American Crossroads came from Daniels Manufacturing Corp., an aircraft and aerospace company based in Orlando that has received millions of dollars in federal contracts.
"I like his politics," president George Daniels said of Rubio. "He's pro-defense, pro-lower taxes and has been that way for a long time, as opposed to the flip-flopping governor."

American Crossroads has spent millions of dollars attacking Democratic candidates. The source of some of its money is a secret because it is affiliated with a nonprofit arm, Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, that is not required to disclose donors to the IRS.

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