Does Harkin get to keep leftover campaign money, if he retires from politics? I seem to recall there are some cases where politicians had leftover money and were able to keep it for personal use under certain circumstances.
If he can keep it, or use it to set up a foundation such as the Clintons did, that would explain why he sits on it.
Yes he does. A dirty-little-not-so-secret. Kerry creamed over $20 Million from his campaign and took a lot of heat for (a) not sharing or (b) not spending it when it could have made a difference at the end of the campaign. Pat Buchanan (of all people) is reported to have squirreled away over $10 Million from his strange campaign.
The really odd factoid: even if the source of the money is federal matching funds, if it doesn't get spent, ity's the candidates when it's all over!
This is just one more way broken down small-town lawyers who get into office without a dime are suddenly millionaires after a few terms.
Dilb... Like all retiring dirt bags, left over funds are their “golden parachutes”.