Campaign Money: Where does it all go?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

Much is made of the huge 100-200mil war chest of shrub. I find it simultaneously discouraging and encouraging that one candidate managed to raise 40mil in novel ways, but that all this money didn't "buy" a single Democratic primary.

This is encouraging in the following way: if a voter is disenchanted with being lied into the Iraq invasion or the fact that they're out of a job and think shrub only toadies up to megabillionaries, it's unlikely that some attack ad will sway them. If they are a "mushy middle" (don't read too much and inform themselves too much on issues, but have a vague unease that the country is going sour and are considering sitting out or voting Dem), then they might be swayed.

I am curious in a "typical" campaign, primary or GE, what is the breakdown for expenses:

%for TV and radio ads (ad agency and airtime)
%telephone bills/expenses
%to pay campaign staffers
%for office space rent etc.
%for mailing expenses, printing
%misc incidentals, gasoline, pizza and latenight Chinese takeout, motel bills...

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Those signs on sticks

that everyone holds up and shakes cost alot of money. Advertising, be it print, media, radio, or collateral (buttons, hats, staff shirts, etc) is probably the biggest bulk of expense. I don't know the percentages are, but I do know the cost of doing these things...it's mind boggling.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Check this book

"The Buying of the President" by Charles Lewis.

[cprise]

3. It goes mainly to the corporate media

So a good question is: How much do the media give to the candidates in the first place?