finance of presidential campaigns

how did the last campaign affect this campaign in terms of public financing?

this part of the video also goes over the primary matching funds eligibility requirements

State campaign funance and Disclosure Laws

Panelists talked about the impact of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Supreme Court decision on state campaign finance and disclosure laws. They also responded to questions from the audience. Washington State Attorney General McKenna moderated this session of the meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General.

Bloomberg. ew Ways to Make Money Start Talking in Campaign Finance Disclosure

Justice Anthony Kennedy’s majority decision last year in Citizens United, which allowed corporations to contribute unlimited sums toward electioneering, was controversial.
The court’s call for full disclosure of political contributions is supported by the Obama administration and Democratic leaders in Congress

Congress failed to pass a disclosure bill last year and Boehner, now speaker of the House, has not let another near the floor. The Federal Election Commission could rectify the situation simply by requiring disclosure, as the Supreme Court expected it would, but the six-member commission has been stymied by its three Republican members, who typically block even routine action.

Obama Hypocrisy on Campaign Finance

Citizens United launched a web ad calling President Obama a hypocrite because he has not called on Priorities USA to take down its television ad as he told John Edwards to do in 2007.

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Campaign finance is a controversial issue, pitting concerns about free speech against concerns about corruption and inequality on the part of those who favor existing or further restrictions.

Political money in the United States is often divided into two categories, "hard" money and "soft" money.
"Hard" money is contributed directly to a candidate of a political party. It is regulated by law in both source and amount, and monitored by the Federal Election Commission (maximum $2500).
"Soft" money is contributed to the political party as a whole. Historically, "soft money" referred to contributions made to political parties for purposes of party building and other activities not directly related to the election of specific candidates.

Campaign Finance

What were the spending limits for Presidential candidates who accept public funds in the 2008 elections?

Candidates who accept public funds must agree to abide by certain spending limits.  During the primaries, these candidates are subject to an overall expenditure limit and separate limits for each state.  During the general election campaign, the spending limit is equal to the amount of the public funding grant the major party nominees may receive.  

Where does the money come from?

The public funding of Presidential elections is not financed by a standard Congressional appropriation. Instead, the program is funded by the three dollar checkoff that appears on federal income tax forms. 

CNN Tea Party republican debate

Took place on Monday Sept 12, 2011.

The debate was an improvement from the politically biased questions and Perry based ratings frenzy of the MSNBC debate. The questions were far more to the point of what the general public is concerned about.

There was of course controversial statements, and jostling against the frontrunners. Gov. Perry was of course challenged on several topics and statements. There was a bit of a sparring match between the 3 governors, and the pair of Texans.

Rep. Ron Paul probably was the biggest loser of the entire event. While his thoughts on debt reduction and cuts to Government spending is popular, his isolationist views are a problem. His comments about 9/11 (where he ascerts America contributed to the attacks by Osama Bin Laden and Al Quaeda) proved highly unpopular with the audience and likely voters across America. This only adds to our thought that while popular with segments of the Tea Party, Rep. paul is unelectable for the general 2012 election.



Based on the CNN debate the candidates are rated:
Mitt Romney is the most cool and calculated of the candidates. he is the most Presidential looking, but also the most beleagured by his past record.
Gov. Perry is the most self-assured, and likely to make a statement that will cost him the nomination
Rep. Michelle Bachmann is the most likely to repeal Obamacare, but far less potent on virtually all other issues
Herman Cain is the most credible answer to the economy on a short-term and long-term basis. He is also far weaker on issues outside of that realm.
Newt Gingrich is the most experienced of the group, but comes off as far to romanticized about the old days.
Rick Santorum is energetic, and a bit unfocused. He has lots of passion, but cannot seem to come off as Presidential, even in nailing an answer.
Jon Huntsman is still not a presence on the stage. He comes off as too weak, complicated, and a poor foil to the speaking eloquence of President Obama.
Rep. Ron Paul remains the odd-man-out. He has popular ideas about self-reliance and personal freedom. But he is an isolationist and idealic on international policy. His views on most every subject can be defined as the extreme view. Plus he is not a strong debator. He is, in our opinion, the least likely to win the nomination.

Hillary Clinton and Rick Perry

presidential debates/ and students getting involved