Worth emphasizing from this Politico report: “The bulk of Crossroads’ 2011 haul – $33 million – went into a secret money group called Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (Crossroads GPS for short) that does not disclose its donors.”

And why haven’t Dems played the anonymity game as much?  A few reasons:

1. There is a contested Republican primary, so there is a greater desire for Republican money overall, to pick the eventual nominee. Dems are not yet motivated to give as much, anonymous or not.

2. President Obama has a formidable fundraising machine, and there is less need seen for outside groups (anonymous or not), at least at this stage of the campaign.

3. President Obama has marketed himself as a reformer (whether he deserves this label is much more contestable), who opposes super pacs and secret money.  So that makes fundraising for Democratic groups on this side harder.