I hope Dean decides to forgo public matching

[quinnox]

financing for his campaign. It would open it up for other candidates to do the same thing, I think the public matching hamstrings the campaigns in general.

[sfecap]

1. Every candidate should do whatever it takes

to win.

We must remove the * regime!

[SoFlaJets]

2. Why?

Bush 's refusal to do so is a smokescreen-all the Pioneers and Rangers(big time gop contributors) $$$ is a result of the tax breaks he has given them anyway-screw the thiefs-take the cash dems before they steal it...

[quinnox]

3. I think it hamstrings the campaign

There is a lot of Dem money out there, I think they can raise more that way than to go public financing.

[denverbill]

4. I advocate public funding, but......

You are right in this case. Bush is going to have so damned much money that Dean's only hope of competing is to hope to get 1,000,000 people to donate $100, or 10,000,000 to donate $10.

Personally, if anyone can do it, it's Dean.

[quinnox]

6. That is my thinking

In order to compete with Bush, the Dem candidate (whoever it ends up being) has to be able to raise as much as they can with no limit.

[uptohere]

5. don't hold your breath

but I agree it would be nice.

[hippiechick]

7. Doesn't that send a counter-message ?

If Dean is traveling the country saying 'You have the power' etc to audiences made up of Joe Sixpack's, then turns around and says he doesn't want Joe Sixpack's campaign contributions because he can get more money from the Freddie FatCat ... isn't that a direct contradiction to the 'man of the people' image he's trying to portray ?

They need to think this thru, VERY carefully, IMO.


:hippie:

[quinnox]

9. Depends on your perspective I think

If you are a supporter of Dean, it might send a signal that you have even more power to help Dean get elected. It might encourage more money to flow to Dean.

Now, as disclosure I am for Kerry, Gephardt, or Edwards, but I think all of them can raise money and I don't want to see them with a handcuff on the amounts they can raise by public financing.

[w4rma]

8. I hope he does too, but not for that reason.

The campaign finance spending limits hurt anyone who accepts public matching funds. But, Bush is planning to raise about 5 times as much money as the spending limits allow. And it will be done by contributions from very wealthy people who want taxpayer money from their investment in Bush in return.

I want to see *less* money in politics, not more. But, because of Bush, we are going to see *alot* more money until this problem is fixed.

Federal mactching funds spending limit: ~$45 million
Bush's expected funding: ~$200+ million