Category Archives: campaigns
“Is pro-Bush super PAC obscuring spending?”
CPI:
Super PACs are supposed to be both transparent and independent from the politicians they are supporting.
But it’s not clear that Right to Rise USA, the super PAC formed by Republican Jeb Bush prior to his presidential… Continue reading
“Donald Trump’s candidacy raises novel ethics questions”
Fredreka Schouten for USA Today:
If voters decide to hire billionaire Donald Trump as their president in 2016, they couldn’t actually fire him from the job he now holds.
Federal law doesn’t explicitly prohibit President Trump from continuing to run… Continue reading
“Super PACs stretch the rules that prohibit coordination with presidential campaigns”
LAT:
One Democratic commissioner at the FEC said that she is “very concerned” about the growing influence of super PACs and frustrated about the inability of her agency to do anything about it.
“These super PACS are more and… Continue reading
“Carly Fiorina’s first political campaign had a surprising problem: Money”
WaPo:
Famed California pollster Joe Shumate was found dead in his home one month before Election Day 2010, surrounded by sheets of polling data he labored over for the flailing Senate bid of Carly Fiorina.
Upon his death, Fiorina… Continue reading
“Advsory Letter Could Permit Bigger Role for Outside Groups in NC Elections”
WRAL:
Recently published guidance will pave the way for advocacy groups to more closely work with official campaign committees of candidates running for office in North Carolina.
An advisory letter issued by State Board of Elections Director Kim Strach… Continue reading
“At end of fundraising quarter, O’Malley seeks to lessen role of money in politics”
WaPo:
O’Malley is pushing for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United court decision, tougher enforcement of existing campaign finance laws and a public financing system that would provide Americans with a $25 refundable tax credit for donating… Continue reading
“In Maryland congressional race, sharp jabs at the better-funded candidates”
WaPo:
By virtue of money in the bank, state Sen. Jamie B. Raskin and former WJLA anchor Kathleen Matthews are the clear front-runners in the Democratic primary for Maryland’s 8th Congressional District seat.
And with front-runnerhood comes increased scrutiny… Continue reading
“Outsider Candidates’ Fundraising May Prove More Durable Than Insiders'”
Seattle Times Editorial Comes Out Against Campaign Finance Voucher Initiative
The devil in the details.
UPDATE: Here is an opinion piece supporting the measure and Paul Blumenthal coverage.
I’m a big and longtime proponent of campaign finance vouchers, but I have not studied the details of the Seattle proposal… Continue reading
“I’m Trying to Run for President, but the Democrats Won’t Let Me”
Larry Lessig in Politico:
Here’s how you make the debates: After one declares, a candidate is formally welcomed into the race by the Democratic National Committee. Polling firms, taking a cue from the DNC, include that candidate on their… Continue reading
“Bernie Sanders Narrows Fund-Raising Gap With Hillary Clinton”
“It’s bold, but legal: How campaigns and their super PAC backers work together”
Matea Gold for WaPo.
“Mitt Romney: ‘We’ve Gotta Rethink Campaign Finance'”
HuffPo:
Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney called for campaign finance reform in the wake of the explosion of super PACs, which can receive unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions and individuals.
“We’ve really got a mess in… Continue reading