Details

Subject(s)

• Campaign funds—United States [Browse]
• Political action committees—United States [Browse]
• Presidents—United States—Election [Browse]

Series

• Transforming American politics series. [More in this series]
• Transforming American politics

Summary note

Ronald Reagan started it, back in 1977. George Bush perfected the art in 1988. In the 1980s and 1990s, Democrats as well as Republicans running for president (or thinking of doing so) have followed Reagan's lead in establishing precandidacy PACs as a way of raising more money faster, without the regulatory rigors laid down by Congress and the Federal Election Commission. Marshalling years of experience on the campaign trail, Anthony Corrado has documented for the first time the fund-raising and spending patterns of presidential candidates who feel forced to circumvent the system in order to amass enough funds to mount a contemporary presidential campaign. He shows how a variety of factors--contribution limits, the delegate selection process, expenditure ceilings, and costly campaign strategies--have combined to push candidates to establish PACs to raise and spend money on campaign activities well in advance of an official declaration to run. These lofty-sounding organizations--such as Bush's "Fund for America's Future" and Gephardt's "Effective Government Committee"--Operate as "shadow campaigns" throughout the nomination process and often live on beyond the candidate's formal bid for office. The year 1992 is a special case in presidential election year history because of the strong Bush incumbency, a reluctant Democratic challenge, and a series of foreign policy crises. Corrado explains why precandidacy PACs persist and how they are likely to grow (in number and clout) if an array of bold new reform measures is not implemented prior to the next open presidential election in 1996. After showing how the Federal Election Campaign Act not only permits but in fact inspires presidential candidates to break the laws governing campaign finance, Corrado points out how, ironically, less regulation may yield greater compliance and a more effective nomination process in the 1990s and beyond.

Bibliographic references

Includes bibliographical references (p. [261]-272) and index.

Action note

Committed to retain in perpetuity — ReCAP Shared Collection (HUL)

Contents

• 1. Introduction. Purpose and Overview. Candidate PACs and the Regulation of Political Finance. Summary of Chapters
• 2. The Strategic Environment of the Modern Nominating Process. The Campaign Finance Reforms. The Need to Campaign Early. The Strategic Consequences of Spending Limits. Conclusion
• 3. Federal Law and the New Alternatives. Statutory Provisions. FEC Rulings on Exploratory Activities. FEC Rulings on PAC Activities. Conclusion
• 4. The Rise of Presidential Candidate PACs. Presidential Candidate PACs. The Timing of PAC Operations. The Financial Activity of Candidate PACs. The 1992 Election. Conclusion
• 5. The Financial Advantages of PAC Sponsorship. Overview. Access to Large Contributions. Soft Money. Contributions to Federal Candidates. Condusion
• 6. The Shadow Campaign. Developing a Campaign Organization. Developing a Fundraising Program. Developing Political Support. Conclusion
• 7. Candidate PACs and the Campaign Finance System. PACs and the Objectives of the Campaign Finance Reforms. PACs and the Presidential Selection Process. PACs and the Regulation of Presidential Campaign Finance. Conclusion
• 8. Reforming the Reforms. Assessing Recent Reform Proposals. Rethinking Regulatory Reform. Proposals for Reform. Conclusion.

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ISBN

081331450X

LCCN

^^^91043588^

OCLC

24906962

RCP

H - S

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