Lamont's Secret Weapon [Exploiting campaign-finance loopholes.]

WSJ ^ | August 15, 2006 | WSJ

[Brilliant]

Credit for Ned Lamont's primary victory over Joe Lieberman has fairly gone to the "netroots" and above all to passions aroused by the Iraq War. But his really secret weapon is one that his fellow liberals prefer not to mention out loud: Mr. Lamont could finance his own campaign.

Thanks to campaign funding limits, most political neophytes have a better chance of affording a home in Mr. Lamont's swanky town of Greenwich, Conn., than they do of raising enough money to be competitive against an incumbent of the same party. Despite his unpopularity in some Democratic circles, Mr. Lieberman was still able to raise some $10 million -- normally more than enough to intimidate any potential opponent.

But as a mega-millionaire, Mr. Lamont was able to exploit the campaign-finance loophole that allows rich folk to spend on their own campaigns. And given his narrow four-point victory, he needed every dime. According to Federal Election Commission records, Mr. Lamont self-funded about $4 million, or 70%, of the $5.8 million he raised through August 8. In the crucial last three weeks, when the TV spots really started to fly, he pitched in about $1.5 million. That cash flow had more to do with Mr. Lamont's ultimate victory than all the Angry Left bloggers in America...

Nowadays you can still be antiwar and run for office -- but you'd also better be rich.

[Brilliant]

I'm surprised that the leftwing lunatic elite did not open their pocketbooks for Mr. Lamont.

[mo]

IMHO here, how and why did Americans let congressional seats become so valuable...and where is the transparency that allows aus all to appreciate just HOW valuable these seats really are?!!

[RedRover]

I'm surprised that the leftwing lunatic elite did not open their pocketbooks for Mr. Lamont.

I read that many Hollyweiders gave the maximum personal contribution of a couple thousand bucks. (I've never given more than $50 a year myself so I don't know the exact rules.)

[DJ Taylor]

Now I know why Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson had those big smiles on their faces as they stood beside Lamont at his victory speech. Al and Jesse, for a price, probably mobilized their vast constituency of "dead" voters, felons, and illegal aliens.

[mainepatsfan]

His poll numbers better improve or he won't be getting much more.

[Jim Noble]

how and why did Americans let congressional seats become so valuable...

By amending the Constitution to allow direct taxation of incomes, by intimidating the Supreme Court to allow redistribution of income by that mechanism, and by not enforcing the law against bribery as long as the bribe can be called a "campaign contribution".

[randita]

Worked for Corzine.

[avacado]

Ned Lamont aka Edward M. Lamont (D), spent over 2 million of his own money on this campaign.

OPEN SECRETS . ORG
See: http://opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?ID=CTS1&Cycle=2006

[Brilliant]

The WSJ articles says $4 million as of Aug 8.

[avacado]

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The WSJ articles says $4 million as of Aug 8.
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Is that total or personal?

[avacado]

Never mind! D'oh! I get the idiot award for the day!

[Mannaggia l'America]

See Lamont - I told you this empire would be yours someday.

[gridlock]

I'm surprised that the leftwing lunatic elite did not open their pocketbooks for Mr. Lamont.

They're only good at spending other people's money...

[jmaroneps37]

This race will NOT be decided on money. Lieberman is well known and the incumbent, the other guy is equally well known. Free media will even this out. Lieberman wins with 54%.