I talked with a professional campaign consultant in Sacramento today. In exchange for his candor, not to mention free advice, I won’t use his company name. But, just know this was an actual conversation with a very highly respected Sacramento politican campaign advisor, not a fictionalized account of what one might say. He informed me that I would have an advantage as a Chicoan and having grown up in Marysville and Yuba City, along with my other credentials, but the bottom line in the race is the money. I have no track record for raising money and as repeated the money is most likely going to determine the outcome. That was his whole emphasis! Everything else like idealism, hard work, ideas, pales in comparison to the cash. If you’ve read any of my past articles about campaign finance reform, then you know how strongly I hate this idea that money can buy an election…it’s repulsive and NOW I’m told I have to be a money raising machine or forget it? The latest FPPC stats say over 93% of elections are won by the candidate with the most money. I think this is obscene.
What’s happened to our democracy when money means more than character or ideas?
This Assembly race could likely cost $350,000 and there’s a good chance it could run as high as $500,000! My advisor pointed out in a race in SoCal, it went over a half million and the candidate was incredibly well endorsed and well known, but it took that much money just to keep ahead of her wealthy opponent.
To keep this election in perspective, it’s for a seat in the California Assembly, it’s not for a seat in Congress! It’s a humble 1/80th vote from within the minority party! Why should it cost this much to run an assembly race? This professional said, in so many words, the only way to Sacramento is a path paved with money.
My fears about the runaway cost of running for election is coming true.
It gets worse…stay tuned.