public financing news stories on Newser

It's the Small Change We Should Believe In

Harry Kimball — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:16:01 CST

The 2008 election marked the death knell of post-Watergate public financing, Mark Schmitt writes for the American Prospect , but the raft of small donations that killed the system heralds a hopeful future. The public financing system was designed—and failed—to limit the influence of special interests: “Since the ability...

Best, Worst Financial Decisions of Candidates

Ambreen Ali — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:29:01 CDT

The next president faces the daunting task of fixing a crippled economy—all the more reason to look at the candidates' best and worst financial decisions during the campaigns. Politico's Jeanne Cummings does the tally: Obama's Best: His decision to hire Facebook's founder, whose interactive Internet fundraising included billboards in...

Obama's Haul Spurs Concern About Faceless Donors

Matt Cantor — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:48:24 CDT

The huge success of Barack Obama’s Internet fundraising campaign has sparked concerns about the regulation of campaign finance. Some worry that the faceless system allows for easy abuse, particularly in light of donations from anonymous or clearly fake names such as "Osama bin Laden," the Washington Post reports. Dangerous or...

McCain Raised $47M in Aug.

Nick McMaster — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:37:32 CDT

John McCain’s presidential campaign raised $47 million in August, its biggest monthly take yet, the AP reports. The campaign has apparently received $10 million in donations since McCain announced Friday that Sarah Palin would be his running mate. Officials say the total Republican general-election chest will be at least $224...

Obama's a Pragmatist, Not a Reformer

Kevin Spak — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:06:14 CDT

Barack Obama’s decision to opt out of the public financing system shouldn’t come as a surprise, writes Politico’s Ben Smith. Obama has been inching away from the money for a long time now, proving once again that he’s not a traditional reformer—he’s a pragmatist. Obama comes from a community...

Dr. Obama and Mr. Hyde

Matt Cantor — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:20:20 CDT

Barack Obama has two faces: there’s the "high-minded" liberal “Dr. Barack” and the politically calculating, win at-all-costs “Fast Eddie Obama,” writes David Brooks in the New York Times . The split personality clearly emerged in Obama’s announcement that he won’t accept public financing—a money-making move that leaves his ardent support...

McCain Blasts Obama for Declining Funds

Jonas Oransky — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:00:00 CDT

Following fast on Barack Obama’s decision to abandon public financing, a McCain rep said the Dem has failed “the true test of a candidate”—whether he'll stick to his word, Time reports. But Politico notes that an Obama rep blamed McCain: “Our campaign counsels met, and it was immediately clear...

Obama Already Beating McCain ... in the Wallet

Jonas Oransky — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:30:00 CDT

Barack Obama raised $32 million in April, Politico reports; Hillary Clinton bagged $22 million, and John McCain, now squarely in Obama's general-election sights, brought in $18.5 million. It was a record for Republican, yet dwarfed by what was a rough month for Obama—who also banked $9 million in...

Mac Will Run With Public Funds

Jonas Oransky — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:36:00 CDT

John McCain will use public funds to finance his 2-month general-election campaign, Politico reports today. McCain's decision to take the $84.1 million available once he's officially nominated in September comes after the GOP candidate gave back $3.2 in donations pegged to the home stretch. McCain has raised $72...