Posted on 11/19/2008 12:39:32 PM PST by flattorney
Abstract: The runoff for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia is providing a stark example of how candidates in the 2008 election have been able to skirt campaign-finance limits -- without actually breaking the law. Federal campaign-finance law limits individuals to donating $2,300 to a candidate per election. Yet Republicans and Democrats are soliciting donations more than 10 times that amount for the Dec. 2 runoff in Georgia. GOP fund-raisers are asking people to give as much as $65,500 toward incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss's campaign, while Democrats are seeking donations up to $30,800 for challenger Jim Martin. So how are the caps legally dodged? By using a "joint fund-raising committee" to steer chunks of outsized donations to various accounts that technically aren't part of a candidate's war chest, but that nonetheless are spent on his or her behalf. In Sen. Chambliss's case, the $65,500 is divided among his campaign, the Republican National Committee, the Georgia Republican Party and the campaign arm of Senate Republicans. Mr. Martin's operates similarly. Both campaigns declined to comment.
The Senate candidates in Georgia are hardly the only ones to use this hugely popular loophole this year. In fact, both President-elect Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona relied on special accounts that accepted donations up to $70,000 to raise $350 million of the total $1 billion they collected during the presidential race. During the 2008 election cycle so far, candidates and political parties raised $415 million through joint fund-raising accounts, according to data compiled by the nonpartisan CQ MoneyLine. That is nearly triple the $111 million donated to such funds during the 2004 presidential-campaign cycle.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
McPain FineLib was legislation at its worst.
Chambliss Ahead by Four in Georgia Run-off Race
Rasmussen
Posted on 11/19/2008 9:38:36 AM PST by Chet 99
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134695/posts
Missouri virtually sure to give its electoral votes to McCain
The Kansas City Star | November 19, 2008 | Dave Helling
Posted on 11/19/2008 11:50:11 AM PST by flattorney
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2134803/posts
I’m just so happy we’re still seeing campaign ads here!! /sarc
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