Why does the news keep reporting how much money any given candidate has raised?
March 8th, 2010 | by Rarzi |I mean, what’s the big deal? Its not on the ballot.. can you imagine “would you like to vote for candidate ‘A’ who has raised ‘X’ amount of money or candidate ‘B’ who raised ‘this much’ money?
Why does it make the news? Do people really vote based on how much money “so and so” has?
I know I don’t. I go the lesser of all evils myself.
11 Responses to “Why does the news keep reporting how much money any given candidate has raised?”
By brian on Mar 8, 2010 | Reply
it’s not that people choose based on that, it’s that they’re a reliable prediction of who will win the elections.
so they’re not offering advice, they’re making predictions available.
By greg w on Mar 8, 2010 | Reply
Right now money is one of the big indicators of who is ahead. Money is a more certain indication of votes, and not just the intention of votes, like polls.
Plus the unfortunate truth is that advertising wins some elections. You’d think with the overexposure of media that we’d have figured it out, but I don’t think we have yet.
By Crypt on Mar 8, 2010 | Reply
Their beliefs on abortion, the war, and any number of other things are not on the ballot either. But raising money is business, perhaps some people use that to help determine how well they do business.
Everyone has their own priorities, and I’m certainly not one to go telling someone the tools they use to help determine who they are going to vote for are invalid. It’s their right to choose who they vote for any way they want to. I even know people that choose based on the candidates wife and if she’s a good role model for young women.
When it comes to voting, how you choose is right or wrong for you, not everyone else.
By rich2481 on Mar 8, 2010 | Reply
alot of money is spent on elections,, I think it is a shame, we dont use that money to help the homeless or at least use it for health care, housing , how about using it to move people outta New Orleans before it floods again,,
I think it is so dang wasteful,,
By Mike P on Mar 8, 2010 | Reply
It simply shows how much financial muscle their campaign has. The more money, the better their chances are of gaining greater exposure.
By Elway_the_Cat on Mar 8, 2010 | Reply
It’s important because the more money a candidate raises the more they can saturate the market with their image and their message. The more saturation the more votes they get. In a twisted sort of way people are indeed voting for the money. At least for the candidate that had enough money to put their message out there enough for you to get that message, accept it and decide they have your vote. Familiarity only breeds contempt in politics AFTER the election has been decided
.
By _ on Mar 8, 2010 | Reply
The money shows how much support a particular candidate actually has. It is a far better indicator than polls at this point, as it shows whom is being supported by those who are paying attention.
In particular, the fundraising for the 3rd quarter shows that John McCain isn’t actually a “top-tier” Republican, but Ron Paul is. Ron Paul’s ability to raise $1.2 million in a week without pandering to special interests also shows that he has a very good chance of being nominated (besides basically being a lock to beat Hillary head-to-head).
By lilly4 on Mar 8, 2010 | Reply
Amen!! Media does this to make people think that the certain candidate has many more people behind them, then they really have, since we all should know that illegal campaign funds are laundered through other sources. I guarantee, us regular citizens are not sending them thousands in one bundle. The way I see it, the candidate with the largest amount in campaign donations are the ones who pander to the lobbyist, to be sure the lobbyist get their pet project slipped into a bill being passed, that nothing to do with the bill itself. In other words, a few thousand in donations, for millions and billions in pork slipped into other bills. Lesser of all evils is good, a regular person off the street running for President, is more qualified, he has not been bought already and paid for in campaign donations.
By 1-2informationalways on Mar 8, 2010 | Reply
I know. I’ve asked myself this question. This should tell you a lot, though, about what kind of newsmedia we have in this country!!!
By lostlyrics on Mar 8, 2010 | Reply
because usa got the best democracy money cAn buy
By Thomas G on Mar 8, 2010 | Reply
The reason people want to know is this: Donors… especially corporate donors will be expecting pay back for helping get a candidate elected. Knowing how much a candidate raised will go a long way in knowing how far in someone elses pocket they are.