Category Archives: campaigns

“The Donald On ‘SNL’: Equal Time Isn’t Needed The FCC rule was meant to foster debate, but today is more likely to chill it.”

November 4, 2015, 5:20 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

Babette Boliek and Derek Muller oped in the WSJ: Holding a small number of broadcast stations and cable and satellite operators to a century-old standard makes little sense. Given the few situations that now trigger the equal-time doctrine, the explosion… Continue reading

“Trump courted mega-donors he now scorns; The candidate quietly wooed Sheldon Adelson, Paul Singer and the Koch brothers”

November 4, 2015, 4:42 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Politico reports. NYT: During the conversation, the person briefed on the discussion said, Mr. Adelson told Mr. Trump that his most important issue when considering a candidate is the safety of Israel. Mr. Trump then emphasized his personal and… Continue reading

“Super PACs, Outside Groups Dominate GOP ’16 Ad Spending”

November 4, 2015, 12:37 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NBC News: A whopping 95 percent of the TV ad spending in the Republican presidential race has come from outside groups and Super PACs, while just 5 percent comes from the actual campaigns, according to an NBC News analysis… Continue reading

“Mainers bolster clean election law”

November 3, 2015, 7:55 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

AP: Mainers have approved changes aimed at bolstering the state’s campaign finance rules and clean election law. The proposal will make more money available to qualifying candidates, increase fines for violators of the campaign finance laws and require groups… Continue reading

“Bush, Clinton benefit from lobbying gray area; Influence industry plays key role in raising funds for the campaigns”

November 3, 2015, 3:52 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, lobbyingRick Hasen

Politico: The influence industry is playing a larger role than meets the eye in raising money for Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush. Campaigns are required to file reports detailing registered lobbyists who round up donations, but that number is… Continue reading

“Small Donors Are Clicking More With Democrats Than Republicans”

November 3, 2015, 10:12 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: The differing approaches between Mr. Sanders and Mr. Carson reflect a wider divide between the two parties. The Democrats, largely through ActBlue and the digital efforts of individual campaigns, have gained a cultural and technological edge in developing a… Continue reading

What Does Charles Koch Want for His Big Campaign Money?

November 3, 2015, 7:41 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: The normally press-shy Mr. Koch, who has made a string of recent media appearances to promote his book, “Good Profit,” is helping raise hundreds of millions of dollars this year for conservative political and philanthropic causes, some… Continue reading

More Hints from @Lessig of Independent Presidential Bid

November 2, 2015, 3:49 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Lessig Blog post: (my emphasis) But I will regret forever not having a real chance at the debates to press the one real issue that is before us as a democracy, and that the other candidates just are not addressing:… Continue reading

“School Board Recalls: At least 307 attempted since 2012; 24 officials kicked out, 21 resigned, 13 survived vote”

November 2, 2015, 3:46 pmcampaigns, recall electionsRick Hasen

Recall Elections Blog: Once again, a recall election is arguably the most fascinating election of the year. As opposed to some of the past famous recalls, the big one this year is for a minor political position: three School… Continue reading

@Lessig Leaves Democratic Primary Quest, Does Not Expressly Foreclose Independent Bid

November 2, 2015, 9:45 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

YouTube video.

“Bill puts veil over campaign funding in Wisconsin”

November 2, 2015, 7:53 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Patrick Marley for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: A bill that has passed the Assembly and could be considered by the state Senate as early as Tuesday would make it much harder for citizens to learn the background of who is financing… Continue reading

“Democratic Challengers and Open-Seat Candidates Have More Dollars on Average – But the Number Running Is Way Down”

November 2, 2015, 7:52 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

The latest from the Campaign Finance Institute: eports recently filed by House candidates covering financial activity through September 30th continue to show an advantage for the Democratic Party among challengers and open seat candidates. House Democratic challengers raised more… Continue reading

“Cruz’s silent super PACs a growing worry for campaign”

November 2, 2015, 7:48 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Sen. Cruz’s campaign uses @Politico to communicate with its Super PAC.

“How Jeb Bush may have just outsourced a key part of his campaign”

November 1, 2015, 1:24 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

The Fix: The problem for the PAC is that it can’t coordinate legally with Bush on where to spend that fortune. It has to do its own thing, making educated guesses about where and how to advertise or otherwise… Continue reading