Report: GOP outside groups plan to spend more than $1 billion in 2012

— -- Pro-Republican outside groups looking to influence elections across the country are on track to spend a record-breaking $1 billion this year, Politico reports.

Those behind most of the spending include the super PAC American Crossroads, a group linked to George W. Bush's former Chief of Staff Karl Rove, Charles and David Koch and the Chamber of Commerce.

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The $1 billion figure cited by Politico is on top of the anticipated $800 million in spending from Mitt Romney's presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee.