3 of 5

Write now Article Tools

Political funds are the real story in the 2008 elections. Common assumptions are that the republicans have the backing of big business, and will try to buy the presidency. Nothing could be farther from the truth this year.

According to the Federal Election Commission, as of Sept. 30, 2007 the democrats enjoy more than 30% more money to invest in their campaigns. They had accumulated more than $241,000.000, which is far more than the republicans at $175,000,000. That is a significant advantage.

The politics of big money? Hillary had a "war chest" of 89 million dollars compared to Obama's 79 million dollars. John Edwards is trying to compete with them with "only" 30 million dollars. Richardson is the pauper with only 18.5 million available.

The supposedly rich republicans' frontrunner in campaign funds is Mitt Romney with 61.6 million dollars available, of which 17 million he contributed to himself. Guiliani has a sum of 46.7 million, followed by McCain's 31 million dollars. While Thompson has a fund in excess of 12.7 million, Mike Huckabee's fund was only 2.3 million.

Surely there have been significant additional contributions in the last quarter of 2007, this is empirical evidence that the big money in this election is in the democrats corner. Several interesting points that may be made by analyzing the funding in this election cycle are as follows:

How has Mike Huckabee survived? How did he manage a win in the Iowa Caucus? How did Romney manage to lose while outspending Huckabee 15 to 1? The answer must lie in the voter reception of each candidates' message. Huckabee connected, and Romney did not.

The democrats share a similar quandary. Obama (a beginner as presidential hopefuls go) met Clinton head-to-head with almost equal funding available. Although he should have lost, all things considered, he did not. His message to the voters connected, and Clinton's message did not. Guess what? Maybe it is the message, and not the messenger, after all.

Comparing the campaign funding between the democrats and republicans can dispel the notion that political advantage is solely based upon money. Mitt, and Hillary would testify to that point. May all politicians take note that they should work on their messages, and quit trying to rely on buying their political offices.

source: www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch

Learn more about this author, Bob Schmidt.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about The politics of big money: Comparing Democratic vs Republican candidates on campaign funds?
We want to hear your view. Write now!