Move over, national political parties: this year, the spending powerhouse poised to make the most difference in the 2010 elections doesn't respond to the initials "RNC" or "DNC." Like our biggest stars - Madonna, Prince, Charo - that distinction falls to a group we know so well, they need but one name: Chamber.

According to a front page story in Wednesday's Washington Post, the US Chamber of Commerce spent significantly more in 2009 on lobbying and political outreach than EITHER political party - and more than DOUBLE the spending of the Democratic National Committee. Now, as the 2010 elections approach, the Chamber is ready to blow $50 million to target vulnerable Democrats who may be inclined to support progressive legislation on healthcare and financial reform.

That spells terrible things for working families, who have already suffered under a barrage of anti-healthcare reform, anti-financial reform propaganda from the Chamber. Evan Tracey at CMAG estimates that the Chamber's already spent more than $40 million on anti-healthcare reform ads, and they've partnered with a coalition that has spent $10 million in the last two weeks alone, according to the New York Times. As for financial reform, the Chamber's gearing up to spend $3 million on ads in six states to kill pro-reform legislation.

Think all that spending doesn't have a major influence on the political process? Think again. The $144 million the Chamber spent in 2009 on lobbying - largely to kill healthcare reform - is more than ExxonMobil, PhRMA, Pfizer, GE, AARP, AMA, Chevron and Blue Cross combined.

So what will that $50 million bullseye aimed at vulnerable Democrats mean for the fate of legislation important to working families? We're not sure. But we know one thing: the 800-pound spending gorilla that is the Chamber needs to be stopped.