From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

In this year's midterm elections, it's big money versus big money.

Hello again, I'm Oran Alney, and this is To the Poit from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans get about most. Almost $4 billion are being spent on campaigns for the Senate and

Congress, and Super PACs can spend as much as they want to. Some races aren't controlled by the candidates

anymore. The real players are big spending outsiders, some of whom can contribute in secret.

It turns out that Democrats are so much a party

of rich donors, they're sometimes beating Republicans at their own game. But while everybody says

they hate being inundated by TV spots, most voters learn what they know from political advertising.

Today's talking point, the Latino influence in next Tuesday's elections.

First, here's the news.

Listen to KCRW's 24-hour all-news channel.

Stream BBC World Service, NPR and KCRW programs.

Continuous coverage and accessible via our smartphone app or online at ccrw.com.

Support for To The Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International Program Fund.

Hello again, Warren. I'll be back with To the Point. There is so much outside money in this year's midterm elections that in some races, the candidates don't really control their own campaigns anymore.

We'll hear about unlimited contributions, corporate spending, and secret money.

Today's talking point, Latinos could help decide a U.S. Senate seat Tuesday in Colorado.

Could Latinos also influence tight races in Georgia, Kansas, Iowa, and North Carolina?

First is news update. Last weekend, pro-Western parties won an overwhelming majority in the

parliament of Ukraine, but there was no voting in parts of eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian

separatists plan their own separate elections this coming Sunday.

...