How Democrats Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Big Donor Money

The New York Times ^ | 30 September 2016 | NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and RACHEL SHOREY

[Theoria]

Democrats denounced it as an assault on democracy and a sop to billionaires when the Supreme Court issued a ruling two years ago that loosened limits on campaign giving.

But Hillary Clinton and Democratic Party leaders are now exploiting the decision, funneling tens of millions of dollars from their wealthiest donors into a handful of presidential swing states.

The flow of money, documented in Federal Election Commission reports, shows Democrats expanding their fund-raising advantage in the final phase of the presidential race, defying expectations at the beginning of the campaign that Republicans would dominate the money chase.

The shift has allowed the national Democratic Party to overcome a cash shortage and provide Democrats in key states like Virginia and North Carolina with money for early voting drives, additional staff and canvassing aimed up and down the ticket.

The Democratic National Committee — in debt and underfinanced a year ago — has poured nearly $30 million into these key states through the beginning of September. The funding was powered by a surge of six-figure contributions raised by Mrs. Clinton from the likes of James Cameron, the Hollywood director, and George Soros, the retired hedge fund manager, as well as several members of the billionaire Pritzker family.

The Republican National Committee has provided the states with just $11 million, limited by Donald J. Trump’s difficulties in persuading the traditional Republican big-donor base to invest in his campaign.

“In many ways, we are kind of used to the concept of building our own empire,” said Matt Borges, the executive director of the Republican Party of Ohio, adding that he did not believe Ohio Republicans would be at a disadvantage come Election Day. “I’ll take whatever I can get.”

[Buckeye McFrog]

NY Slimes setting the table for the excuse stories that will run when she loses.

Excellent!

[SERKIT]

Anyone tracing back the flow of money from the Saudis to the Klinton Kampaign whereby they were supposedly funding 20% of the campaign?

[headstamp 2]

To say nothing of the foreign donor money flowing in.

[arthurus]

Supreme Court decisions limiting campaign money simply do not affect Democrats who receive many millions of foreign money, now openly, which is illegal and has been illegal. As with the gun control argument, criminals don’t obey the law. That is what makes them criminals.