Ben Smith writes today about PowerPAC, a 501c4 that is launching African American voter registration in the South and a media campaign focused on Hispanics in the west, despite the Obama campaign’s "hostility to independent groups."

But according to a source close to the Obama campaign, they have changed their position on independent expenditures. Despite actively discouraging donors from giving to groups like Progressive Media at one point, they are now taking the position that it’s nothing they have any control over.

What does it all mean? Well, earlier in the year, a major donor was discouraged from writing a big check to America Votes for distribution to groups like PFAW and Planned Parenthood, who planned to use the money to help down ticket races. These groups have largely sat on the sidelines as a result — and as a consequence, candidates like Susan Collins haven’t been targeted for their Alito votes. If the money starts flowing again from big donors who didn’t want to piss off the Obama campaign, that could change.

It may be too late for Progressive Media, but Tom Matzzie’s new group which targets right wing billionaires and their Swift Boating activities seems to be setting Republican heads ablaze (they’re being compared to the Ku Klux Klan). It will be interesting to see how the newly-liberated money changes the dynamics of the race.