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ELECTIONEERING/FUND RAISING QUESTION
October 27, 2014 | Self

Posted on 10/27/2014 7:40:24 AM PDT by SMARTY

I am sure this must be a really stupid question. But, what happens to campaign money when/if a candidate fails to win nomination of his party?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: campaigning; fundraising
Does the failed candidate have to turn over the funds to the national party? Where do unused funds get 'applied'?

I'm asking this because of a candidate like Jeb Bush who makes a run for the nomination with no real possibility, intention or expectation of succeeding. Everyone knows he CANNOT win the nomination, but certainly will be a terrific fundraiser.

Is he doing this just to raise money and ultimately pass it along to the nominee/s?

1 posted on 10/27/2014 7:40:24 AM PDT by SMARTY
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To: SMARTY

They keep it and can use it for nebulous campaign related expenses.

This is why so many ‘candidates’ run for President and everyone knows they have a snowball’s chance in hell to win or even come close.

A politician’s campaign fund account is a convenient vehicle for the deposit of bribes.


2 posted on 10/27/2014 7:47:23 AM PDT by Hostage (ARTICLE V)
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To: SMARTY

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/02/leftover-campaign-funds/

Q: What happens to a candidate’s leftover campaign funds when he or she drops out of the race?

A: The big rule is: no personal use.

State and local governments have their own rules, but those running for federal office — including presidential candidates — must abide by strict FEC guidelines when it comes to their extra campaign money. They can donate an unlimited amount to a charity or political party. They can also, within limits, make contributions directly to other candidates.

More at link


3 posted on 10/27/2014 7:50:38 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer.)
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To: Hostage

NO accounting to the RNC?

Why would someone waste his time, muddy the water and do something so divisive to Conservative chances by doing this?


4 posted on 10/27/2014 7:51:31 AM PDT by SMARTY ("When you blame others, you give up your power to change." Robert Anthony)
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To: SMARTY

More details at:

Federal Election Commission
Winding Down Your Federal Campaign
http://www.fec.gov/info/articles/windingdown09.pdf


5 posted on 10/27/2014 7:52:02 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer.)
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To: SMARTY

If you are a Democrat, then you can do anything you want with the money. If you are a Republican, you have to follow whatever is the law at the time.


6 posted on 10/27/2014 7:52:35 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: Vigilanteman

I figured THAT much for sure.

I guess I should have qualified the question. What do CONSERVATIVES have to do with unused funds? :)


7 posted on 10/27/2014 7:54:43 AM PDT by SMARTY ("When you blame others, you give up your power to change." Robert Anthony)
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To: SMARTY

Some use the funds to give to other candidates or to PACs. They can give it to charities, too.


8 posted on 10/27/2014 7:57:25 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (The cure has become worse than the disease. Support an end to the WOD now.)
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To: SMARTY

I am not sure of the finance laws, but ...

In 2008, McCain had to use the FED fund, as his campaign ran out of money. That helped him to eventually win the nomination and lose to Obama.

In 2010, McCain was up for reelection to his Senate seat. He again ran short of money and had to borrow something like $20 million from his presidential campaign funds.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaa????

How did he manage to amass such a chunk of money when he had to use FED funds in 2008? Why was that chunk not used to further his presidential campaign? How did he get to ‘borrow’ it for his senatorial campaign?

==

I suspect those campaign funds and many PAC funds are little more than slush funds for the candidate. What doesn’t get used up on the campaign trail eventually slides into their personal accounts sometime later.

But, hey, a $20 million slush fund isn’t too bad, considering that McCain was the primary behind the McCain-Feingold-Thompson, later McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform act.


9 posted on 10/27/2014 8:20:10 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: SMARTY
Why would someone waste his time, muddy the water and do something so divisive to Conservative chances by doing this?

Ask Newt Gingrich and Tommy Thompson.

10 posted on 10/27/2014 8:29:08 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Vigilanteman

LOL, that is so true. You put it so well, it sounds like official advice from a FAQ from the FEC.


11 posted on 10/27/2014 8:29:40 AM PDT by jocon307
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To: thackney

They can donate an unlimited amount to a charity or political party.

Sooo, did Hildabeast donate her excess money from the 2008 election to the Clinton Foundation charity?

I wouldn’t put it past the old hag.


12 posted on 10/27/2014 8:30:44 AM PDT by rfreedom4u (Texas isn't just a state. It's a state of mind!)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

There must be tremendous opportunities to stuff your pockets or why would anyone put themselves through that.


13 posted on 10/27/2014 8:34:55 AM PDT by SMARTY ("When you blame others, you give up your power to change." Robert Anthony)
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To: SMARTY

This is a very good question, and the one I’ve been wondering about is those “I’m Ready for Hillary” people.

Now, that is NOT money being raised by Hillary Clinton herself (or maybe she’s a crook and it is her, but let’s assume it is not so I can understand how this works). There are a bunch of people who want to help her win, they are spending money and raising money. Forget about if she loses, what if she never runs?

Also, in the meantime I suppose you could pay yourself and a few other a salary, and I don’t even mean an exorbitant salary.

So, should I form the committee; READY FOR ANYONE WHO’S NOT A RHINO SQUISH and start being a playah?


14 posted on 10/27/2014 8:35:37 AM PDT by jocon307
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To: SMARTY

Not to belabor the obvious, the RNC is not exactly supportive of Conservative chances


15 posted on 10/27/2014 9:08:18 AM PDT by bigbob (The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. Abraham Lincoln)
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To: bigbob

The RNC hasn’t been ‘supportive’ as you say for a very long time.


16 posted on 10/27/2014 9:09:36 AM PDT by SMARTY ("When you blame others, you give up your power to change." Robert Anthony)
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