Will the US Supreme Court's ruling on campaign finance regulations for television ads lead to wealthier candidates ruling the election roost?

No

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by Albert Hale

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I must have misread the question. Is there still in this country, of for that matter the world, a single person who believes that any person without means can be president?

Oh sure, many can claim that they have risen from ignoble roots. In fact, many have and still do, but they have garnered significant resources along the road to success.

I do not begrudge them their success, it is hard to excel on any plane today. In my youth I have dreamed of many ways I could have become successful. Truly I did!

I am in my own way successful, but not to the extent that any candidate for the presidency must be.

Youth has much exuberance, and several dozen or more temptations, to fill the void. The path that must be taken is long and tiresome. It is in this context that I congratulate any candidate who has risen above the head and shoulders of the many great and able persons we have in this country.

No one of you could have achieved so much without all of the traits and drive that is required, you know what they are. But above all is the determination to do this thing that countless other Americans would shrink from.

How many among us having the position, being capable of building the engine of a supportive group to launch a successful campaign, and then withstanding all of the turmoil and public bloodletting that surrounds such a campaign could see it to its
scintillating finale?

A different question for your consideration: for the historians reading this, How many have succumbed after a humongous effort, due to the pressures of the race?

This then is the essence of the candidate; strength of will beyond those around him/her, and an extreme willingness to forego all of the disagreement and public scrutiny in the pursuit of the goal.

Yes, and an ability to build considerable wealth in campaign funds, personal funds, donations from any source, and personal supporters who will stay the course with the candidate.

O.K the Supreme Court's ruling may have an effect. Will the candidate or the election team not find another way to offset that? Have you not read this document?

The candidate and/or the campaign team will most assuredly find a way, involving any sum of money required to get the job done, that is why they are the candidate.

Any candidate that intends to hold the office of the most powerful person in this country will spend whatever is required to get the job! Wealth is required, it will be acquired.

Can any reader imagine the vast amounts of wealth required to:
a) travel the country for a year on the campaign trail with all that entails
b) attract and retain the team that will get the job done
c) build a support team in every state,communicating with them regularly
d) providing campaign merchandising materials
e) gaining the maximum exposure at each and every opportunity

In summation; the ruling may have an effect, will it lead to wealthier candidates ruling the election roost?

My answer: Don't they now? I submit that the ruling will not lead to wealthier candidates ruling the election roost. We are already there.

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