Big bucks needed: Money proves crucial in campaigns

By Mike Decaire
CyberCaucus 2000 News Service
Drake University

The small Vermont town of White River Junction, just inside the state's border with New Hampshire, is filled with political operatives and potential candidates for the presidency once every four years. Around the time of the New Hampshire primaries, the motels fill up, and the local economy gets a boost.

And it's all because the candidates don't care much about campaigning in Vermont, says Art Sanders, associate professor of political science at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

"Campaigns have to use accounting tricks all the time," Sanders said. "Candidates don't want to run up against the spending limits in New Hampshire," which hosts important primaries in deciding who the nominees for president will be. Instead, Sanders said, the candidates travel over the border to White River Junction to rack up the expenses in Vermont.

Accounting tricks and keeping a close tab on money have become as important to the campaign for the presidential nomination as knocking on doors and delivering crowd-wowing speeches.

>>Next

Story Index

Money proves crucial in campaigns

Big bucks needed for nomination

Campaigning in Iowa combines cash and energy

Campaign contribution limits hinder some candidates