UnPoll: Should Dean take matching funds?

[Hep]

It's a tough one. Dean will have to compete against all the other candidates going after him. Gephardt will blow his wad in Iowa, and Kerry in New Hampshire. By the time Dean is done in those two places, he may not have a lot left to take on Edwards in SC and Clark everywhere else.

But he's probably already got more money than he'll be able to spend if he takes the matching funds. Plus, he admonished Bush for not taking them.

So what do you think?

[GainesT1958]

1. Had he not gotten on Dub...

For Dub's obscene fund-raising from every wealthy beneficiary of his tax-cuts (individual and corporate), Dr. Dean would be in a better position to say "no" to matching funds for the primaries. However, given that he supported McCain-Feingold, he SHOULD take them, IMO. Besides, from his perspective, it would stretch the impact of his fund-raising successes, something he'll need after Iowa and N.H.

And it would show that he chooses the "high road" by not "gaming the system", as Dub & Co. will do.

B-)

[Hep]

2. I think I agree

I've been on both sides of the fence on the issue, and I have no real problem wither way. But he's done fundraising if he's going to take matching funds. He needs to tell his supporters to start donating to the DNC now.

I can tell you though, that I don't think he's going to take them. We're doing a petition drive in NC to get him on the ballot here (since you need 10,000 sigs if you aren't taking matching funds), which is a pretty clear indication that they're having real trouble deciding.

I hope it works out, one way or the other.

[diana_wood]

3. matching funds

Dean shouldnt hamstring the campaign or his supporters by taking matching funds. The opportunity for raising more than the matching funds is quite real. Once the candidate is determined, More will give and the Dean campaign grassroots will come through, I have no doubt.