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Individual donors play a critical role in financing congressional elections, accounting for more than half of all money raised in House campaigns. But significant donors (defined here as those contributing more than $200) are the least understood participants in the system. Defenders assert that contributing money to campaigns is part of a broader pattern of civic involvement and is free speech that gives a voice to various interests. Detractors argue that these contributions are undemocratic, enabling wealthy citizens to overwhelm the voices of the many and to promote narrow business and policy interests. These divergent assessments were raised in connection with the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 and continue to characterize the debate over campaign finance reform.So who really contributes and why? How much and to how many candidates? What are the strategies used by political campaigns to elicit contributions and how do the views of significant donors impact the campaign-finance system? What do donors think about campaign-finance reform? This book investigates these vital questions, describing the influence of congressional financiers in American politics.
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The Financiers of Congressional Elections Power, Conflict, and Democracy: American Politics Into the Twenty-first Century Power, Conflict, and Democracy: American Politics Into the Twenty-first Century Robert Y. Shapiro, Editor This series focuses on how the will of the people and the public interest are promoted, encouraged, or thwarted. It aims to question not only the direction American politics will take as it enters the twenty-first century but also the direction American politics has already taken. The series addresses the role of interest groups and social and political movements; openness in American politics; important developments in institutions such as the executive, legislative, and judicial branches at all levels of government as well as the bureaucracies thus created; the changing behavior of politicians and political parties; the role of public opinion; and the functioning of mass media. Because problems drive politics, the series also examines important policy issues in both domestic and foreign affairs. The series welcomes all theoretical perspectives, methodologies, and types of evidence that answer important questions about trends in American politics. The Financiers of Congressional Elections Investors, Ideologues, and Intimates Peter L. Francia, John C. Green, Paul S. Herrnson, Lynda W. Powell, and Clyde Wilcox Columbia University Press New York Columbia University Press Publishers Since 1893 New York Chichester, West Sussex Copyright © 2003 Columbia University Press All rights reserved Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The financiers of congressional elections : Peter L. Francia . . . [et al.]. p. cm.—(Power, conflict, and democracy) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0–231–11618–7 (cloth : acid-free paper)—ISBN 0–231–11619–5 (pbk. : acid-free paper) 1. Campaign funds—United States. 2. United States. Congress— Elections—Finance. I. Francia, Peter L. II. Series. JK1991.F55 2003 324.7'8'0973—dc21 Columbia University Press books are printed on permanent and durable acid-free paper. Printed in the United States of America c 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 p 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2003048483 Contents Preface vii 1. Introduction 1 2. Who Are the Financiers of Congressional Elections? 3. What Motivates Donors? 42 4. Candidates, Donors, and Fundraising Techniques 5. The Contribution 122 7. Congressional Donors and Campaign Reform 157 Appendix: Methodology Notes 185 References Index 201 191