elections and campaigns money in electoral campaigns
DESCRIPTION
Can Money Buy Elections? In 29 presidential elections between 1860 & 1972, the winner outspent the loserIn 29 presidential elections between 1860 & 1972, the winner outspent the loser Doesn’t necessarily mean money=votes (popular candidates who look like winners can raise more money than others)Doesn’t necessarily mean money=votes (popular candidates who look like winners can raise more money than others)TRANSCRIPT
Elections and Elections and CampaignsCampaigns
Money in Money in Electoral Electoral
CampaignsCampaigns
Money in CampaignsMoney in Campaigns•Political campaigns cost a Political campaigns cost a lotlot
•Particularly true in Particularly true in recent yearsrecent years
•Political machines don’t Political machines don’t supply workers & expensive supply workers & expensive mediamedia
Can Money Buy Can Money Buy Elections?Elections?
•In 29 presidential elections In 29 presidential elections between 1860 & 1972, the between 1860 & 1972, the winner outspent the loserwinner outspent the loser
•Doesn’t necessarily mean Doesn’t necessarily mean money=votes (popular money=votes (popular candidates who look like candidates who look like winners can raise more money winners can raise more money than others)than others)
Money in CampaignsMoney in Campaigns•Nixon outspent George Nixon outspent George McGovern in ’72 but almost McGovern in ’72 but almost certainly would have won certainly would have won even if spent lesseven if spent less
•Most Most studiesstudies on the effect on the effect of money on elections has of money on elections has been done on been done on congressional congressional racesraces
Money in CampaignsMoney in Campaigns•How much an incumbent spends How much an incumbent spends is of little importanceis of little importance
•However . . . However . . . higher spendinghigher spending by the by the challenger produces challenger produces more votesmore votes
•Spending can overcome the Spending can overcome the natural advantages enjoyed by natural advantages enjoyed by incumbentsincumbents
Sources of Campaign Sources of Campaign MoneyMoney
•Candidate themselvesCandidate themselves•Other well-to-do peopleOther well-to-do people•Organizations & interest Organizations & interest groupsgroups
•Small individual donorsSmall individual donors•Federal governmentFederal government
Candidates Candidates •The Supreme Ct. has held The Supreme Ct. has held that spending one’s own that spending one’s own money in campaign activity money in campaign activity is a form of is a form of free speechfree speech protected by the protected by the First First AmendmentAmendment
•However—this spending can be However—this spending can be regulatedregulated if the candidate if the candidate receives receives public fundspublic funds
Other Well-to-Do Other Well-to-Do PeoplePeople
•Give for iGive for ideologicaldeological reasons, reasons, ambitionambition, , prestigeprestige oror power power
•Traditionally, some high Traditionally, some high federalfederal appointmentsappointments, , especially ambassadorships, especially ambassadorships, went to campaign went to campaign contributionscontributions
Other-Well-to-Do-Other-Well-to-Do-PeoplePeople
•1974 campaign finance 1974 campaign finance reform law limited to reform law limited to $1,000$1,000 the amount any the amount any individual could individual could contribute to any single contribute to any single candidate in any one candidate in any one federal electionfederal election
Organizations & Organizations & Interest GroupsInterest Groups
• Motivated by Motivated by material interestmaterial interest in in a a policy areapolicy area, such as milk , such as milk producers, doctors, etc.) or by a producers, doctors, etc.) or by a liberal or conservativeliberal or conservative ideologyideology
• Political action committees Political action committees (PACs)(PACs) can be set up to solicit can be set up to solicit contributions from donors & contributions from donors & contribute sums of contribute sums of $5,000$5,000 per per candidate per electioncandidate per election
Organizations & Organizations & Interest GroupsInterest Groups
•PACs have produced a great PACs have produced a great increase in the total amount increase in the total amount of of businessbusiness & & laborlabor spending spending on electionson elections
•BusinessBusiness spends more than spends more than laborlabor
•This doesn’t necessarily give This doesn’t necessarily give Republicans an advantageRepublicans an advantage
Federal GovernmentFederal Government•In presidential primaries, In presidential primaries, federal government will federal government will match match the money a candidate raises (in the money a candidate raises (in amounts of amounts of $250 or less$250 or less, up to a , up to a limit of $5 million)limit of $5 million)
•In the presidential general In the presidential general election, candidates of “major election, candidates of “major parties” get full federal parties” get full federal supportsupport
Federal GovernmentFederal Government•A candidate who accepts A candidate who accepts federal funding cannot federal funding cannot accept private donationsaccept private donations
•Minor parties, if they Minor parties, if they obtain at least 5% of the obtain at least 5% of the vote, also get federal vote, also get federal fundingfunding
Effects of Campaign-Effects of Campaign-Finance LawsFinance Laws
•(1) Candidates who are (1) Candidates who are personally wealthy have an personally wealthy have an advantage, as do candidates who advantage, as do candidates who can appeal to many small donorscan appeal to many small donors
•(2) Candidates have to spend (2) Candidates have to spend more time on fund raising to more time on fund raising to appeal to a large group of appeal to a large group of small donorssmall donors
Effects of Campaign-Effects of Campaign-Finance LawsFinance Laws
•(3) Incumbents will continue to (3) Incumbents will continue to enjoy a substantial advantage in enjoy a substantial advantage in fundraisingfundraising
•(4) Late starters will be at a (4) Late starters will be at a disadvantagedisadvantage
•(5) Political parties are (5) Political parties are weakened because funding goes to weakened because funding goes to the presidential candidate & not the presidential candidate & not to the partyto the party
Effects of Campaign Effects of Campaign Finance LawsFinance Laws
•(6) Role of celebrities (6) Role of celebrities in politics will increase in politics will increase because they can stage because they can stage benefit concerts to raise benefit concerts to raise money for the candidatesmoney for the candidates