My point was not that people are having a hard time. My point was that even having a hard time, supporting this campaign ranks right up there (to me) with the basic necessities. It is what it is now, and don't you want to give electing a Democrat as good a chance as possible?
Furthermore, I was talking about down-ticket races, not simply the presidency.
Give.
Yes, but here we are right now, in the middle of the race, with ample time after November, after we have done what we need to, to talk about changes in how money is raised.
Raising money takes up an inordinate amount of a campaign's energy and resources, I agree. But we do need to win, now, and need the money to win, now, so I would be happy to put this entire discussion on hold until then, when we can try to find a better way of doing this.
If we lose this election, fundraising for the next cycle will be the least of our concerns.
Sorry if I get a bit carried away.
That was kind :-)
First of all, public financing is voluntary, so not every person has contributed $3 on their federal returns. Second, the amount of money available is insufficient to fully contest a national election, as shown by the fact that Bush and Kerry spent (or funds were spent on their behalf) well in excess of the ceiling in place at that time. Finally, what you call "creative" fundraising would continue to occur regardless - as noted in this diary, McCain raised over $20 million this month, largely as a result of hitting the dinner circuit, and he is also coordinating with the RNC and probably 527s for the fall, yet he ostensibly will receive public financing beginning in August. All you've stated is an ideal that falls far short of reality.
He said he would discuss public financing with the Republican nominee and commit to it if certain conditions were met. His surrogates did that, the camps could not agree on terms, and so in my opinion he has met his obligations. Moreover, from a pragmatic standpoint I'm glad that we won't be tied to an ideal that simply does not reflect the reality on the ground. The public financing system that we currently have in place cannot deliver on its promises and does not effectively advance its goals.
I think the truth is he could not have predicted how successful the fundraising would be and his lofty rhetoric of bringing integrity to the process by removing the influence of money went right out the window.
