1. Money, Money, Money
Does money equal power?

2. Who has spent the most? Who is ahead in the polls?
Democratic Candidates
Candidate         
Home State         
Q2 Raised         
Q2 Spent         
Total Raised         
Total Spent         
Cash on Hand         
Debts         
Clinton, Hillary NY
$27,021,358
$12,769,306
$63,075,927
$17,849,095
$45,226,832
$3,026,522
Obama, Barack IL
$33,120,440
$16,042,388
$58,912,520
$22,648,832
$36,263,688
$922,848
Edwards, John NC
$9,097,495
$6,485,422
$23,129,158
$9,785,203
$13,343,954
$333,586
Richardson, Bill NM
$7,090,278
$4,983,067
$13,339,633
$6,209,949
$7,129,684
$61,104
Dodd, Chris CT
$3,280,384
$4,384,580
$12,076,091
$5,697,820
$6,378,271 $0
Biden, Joe DE
$2,451,180
$2,517,654
$6,461,745
$3,691,828
$2,772,442
Kucinich, Dennis OH
$757,035
$707,653
$1,117,566
$902,355
$213,269
Gravel, Mike AK
$130,510
$99,866
$238,745
$207,604
$31,141
$64,716

3. Who has spent the most? Who is ahead in the polls?
Republican Candidates
Candidate         
Home State         
Q2 Raised         
Q2 Spent         
Raised         
Spent         
Cash on Hand         
Debts         
Romney, Mitt MA
$20,997,715
$20,739,814
$44,432,350
$32,310,796
$12,121,554
$8,945,028
Giuliani, Rudy NY
$17,599,292
$11,222,806
$35,629,265
$17,303,045
$18,326,220 $0
McCain, John AZ
$11,591,044
$13,071,657
$25,328,694
$21,926,631
$3,224,428
$1,783,523
Brownback, Sam KS
$1,425,767
$1,798,493
$3,321,965
$2,861,729
$460,236
Paul, Ron TX
$2,369,453
$539,517
$3,009,997
$655,142
$2,354,855
Tancredo, Tom CO
$1,466,188
$1,474,791
$2,807,879
$2,209,606
$598,451
$15,000
Hunter, Duncan CA
$814,417
$874,042
$1,352,941
$1,140,014
$212,927
Huckabee, Mike AR
$765,873
$702,622
$1,310,753
$873,584
$437,169
$31,045
Thompson, Tommy WI
$486,555
$504,631
$890,398
$768,750
$121,648
$127,434

4. How do you raise the money?
It cost $1.2 billion dollars for Presidential election in 2004

5. FECA Federal Election Campaign Act (1971)
Limits the amount of money that individuals and businesses can give
Creates the FEC, Federal Election Commission, that monitors campaign finances
Creates a loophole:
Hard money:
money given directly to a candidate
Limited
Soft money
Money given to political party for GOTV
and party activities
Unlimited

6. No – limits, within reason, are acceptable
Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
Are limits on my personal spending a violation of my right to freedom of expression?
No – limits, within reason, are acceptable

7. (McCain – Feingold) Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2001
Intent: close loopholes of FECA
Increases amount you can give in hard money: $2300 per person per election
Eliminates soft money

8. New (and growing) Loophole
527 Groups:
support issues, but not a particular candidate
No limit on expenditures
The Living Room Candidate - Commercials AWOL
"I will not be quiet, I will fight back, and I will keep speaking out until Congress forces an exit plan for this awful war."

9. Public Matching Funds Gain donations from small donors in many states
$5,000 in 20 states
No donation can exceed $250
Gov will match the amount raised
Approx. expenditure limit: $41 million in primary
Rarely accepted because of limits including spending only a small amount in each state

10. Better Way? Public Financing of Campaigns
Government (public) pays for campaign costs, currently up to $75 million in general election
Often accepted– must have 5% vote in last election
ADV:
DIS:

11. Should candidates be forced to adhere to spending limits?