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Why campaign finance IS working for Democrats
September 2, 2003 |
There has been much handwringing recently among Democrats about campaign finance reform, because it is cutting off access to the millions of dollars of soft money that kept Democrats going over the past few years. And so, in the short term, Republicans are winning the fundraising race. Republicans, despite their big money image, collect much more from small donors than from large, and much more from small donors than Democrats.
But look what is happening! Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich are in the game because of campaign finance reform. Both have built grass roots campaigns and based their finances on small donations in large numbers, mostly collected over the Internet and to some extent by direct mail.
Their investment in reaching out, combined with that of MoveOn.org, is wonderful for progressives and for the Democratic Party. It is large scale organizing of individuals that is key to winning elections–and most individuals can only afford small donations. Under the old system, most individuals felt excluded from meaningful participation in the party. Under the new Dean/Kucinich/MoveOn.org approach, individuals of all economic levels are embraced and empowered.
Even if Democrats lose in this election–and I don’t think they have to–they will have been forced by finance reform to reach out to voters in new, more interactive and engaging ways–and that will be very good for the party long term .
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