WaPo: “The Republican Party’s 2008 platform contained not a mention of campaign finance reform in its 68 pages. The omission was in deference to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the GOP presidential nominee and co-author of McCain-Feingold. The groundbreaking 2002 measure banned unlimited donations to parties, placed new strictures on political advertising and tried to roll back the ability of wealthy individuals to self-fund their candidacies. Rather than tarnish their standard bearer by challenging his signature legislative achievement, the platform’s authors skirted the issue entirely. What a difference a presidential election cycle makes.”