Yes, voters do care about secret cash funding elections!

It has become an article of faith among certain Beltway inside-game commentators that there's no way the Dem attack on secret money funding elections could ever have a prayer of working. Surely the issue is too esoteric, too process-y, and too removed from voter concerns about the economy to resonate.

But a new poll commissioned by MoveOn, and done by the respected non-partisan firm Survey USA, strongly suggests that the issue may indeed matter a good deal to voters after all.

The poll finds that two thirds of registered voters, or 66 percent, are aware that outside groups are behind some of the ads they're seeing. This makes sense, since the issue has dominated the media amid the battle over the huge ad onslaught against Dems funded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Karl Rove's groups.

What's more, an overwhelming 84 percent say they have a "right to know" who's bankrolling the ads. And crucially, the poll also found that the issue is resonant when linked to the economy. A majority, 53 percent, are less likely to think a candidate who is backed by "anonymous groups" can be trusted to "improve economic conditions" for them or their families. People don't believe these groups are looking out for their interests.

Here are other key findings from the poll, which was provided to me by a MoveOn official:

* An overwhelming 84% of voters polled, including 80% of Republicans and 81% of Independents, believe voters have a right to know who is paying for ads for a particular candidate. * Fifty-six percent of voters overall (including 53% of Independents) are less likely to vote for a candidate if they know the ads supporting that candidate are paid for anonymous corporations and wealthy donors.

* Forty-seven percent of all voters are more likely to support a candidate who insists that voters have a right to know who is paying for ads, with only 9% of total voters saying they are less likely to support a candidate who holds that position. * Almost two out of three voters (63%) do not believe that the anonymous groups running ads hold the voters best interest in mind. This belief is held by 65% of Independent and 70% of Democratic voters. * A straight majority of total voters (53%) are less likely to trust a candidate to improve economic conditions if that candidate is supported by anonymous groups.

The issues poll similiarly among voters in two key states surveyed, Colorado and Illinois.

Now, there's no way of knowing how important the above sentiments will prove to people's final decisions, which are obviously influenced by a host of factors, most overwhelmingly the economy. And surely some will dismiss this poll because it was commissioned by MoveOn.

But keep in mind: Public polling also shows strong voter concern about corporate influence over our elections. A recent Washington Post poll found an overwhelming majority, 80 percent, opposes the Citizens United decision allowing unfettered corporate spending in elections, including strong majorities in both parties. And 72 percent support Congressional checks on corporate (and union) election spending.

At a minimum, there's simply no grounds for asserting that this issue doesn't have a prayer of influencing voters. If anything, the evidence suggests the opposite may be true. Oh, and one other thing: You can actually look up who paid for this poll for MoveOn, because despite what you keep hearing to the contrary, the group does disclose its donors.

