The huge cost of running for President - is the game (almost) over before its begun?

[RiverStone]

Found this interesting link on what does it cost to run for president:

http://www.sunlightfoundation.com/watchdogging101/answer/1424

Per the article-

The crunch time for presidential fundraising is traditionally in the year before the election, when each candidate is trying to break out from the pack. In fact, that period is so important that the candidate who raises the most during that period almost always wins the party’s nomination.

<snip>

Given all that, the cost of a campaign to win the party’s presidential nomination can range from about $50 million for those accepting matching funds to more than $100 million for those going it alone. Once the primaries are over and the nomination is in the bag, a second phase of fundraising begins that continues straight through to the nominating conventions in late summer.

* * * * *

Now I hear rumor that Hillary may request NO public financing for her campaign:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3072456


Of course, HRC already has amassed a hug war chest and is well connected with corporate donors etc. I also heard the talking heads on CNN last night say that at minimum, it will cost $100 million to fight for this job.


QUESTION: For the rest of our very talented DEM field of Presidential hopefuls, are there specific fundraising benchmarks which have to be met by certain times over this next year to be competitive? Which leads to wondering if those benchmarks are not met - no matter how much potential or talent that candidate possesses - would that candidate be SOL and forced to drop out of the race?


I'd love to assume we could have a dollar be damned approach and a person wins on the merits of his/her character and deeds, rather then the size of the campaign's wallet! A grass-roots campaign which is generated not by corporate bigwigs, but by the people themselves!!!


Yea---I know, call me idealistic or crazy- :crazy:

Netroots is a start, but can it ever be enough...?




RiverStone~




on edit: kant spel

[rinsd]

1. There are always fundraising "benchmarks" but they are more relative than specific

It all depends on who has the most and then the spread between candidates from there.

$150M for the primaries and election sounds about right and may even be on the low end.

Shit, Ahnuld and Angelides spent like $130M in the general for the Gov of CA.