Should Kerry accept or reject public financing?

[ringmastery]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45185-2004Jul12.html

After detailed exploration of opting out of the public financing system, key strategists in the presidential campaign of Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) are planning to accept $75 million in federal money for the general election.

"We are taking the federal money," Kerry finance chair Louis Susman said yesterday. Kerry campaign spokesman Michael Meehan was more adamant: "We are not opting out. We are taking public funds. No, N-O, no, we are not opting out."

Kerry officials voiced one caveat: They would reopen the debate over rejecting federal money if they learned that President Bush planned to use privately raised money to finance his general election campaign.

Steve Schmidt, a Bush campaign spokesman, said the president "has no plans" to opt out. But Schmidt refused to pledge Bush would stay inside the system for the final eight weeks of the campaign.

Some of Kerry's fundraisers and campaign operatives have argued that the prospective Democratic nominee should reject the $75 million federal grant in order to be free to spend unlimited amounts of privately raised cash. Under federal rules, candidates who accept public funding for the general election campaign this fall are prohibited from raising additional private funds.

[Eric J in MN]

1. I think Kerry should accept $75 million. We can still donate to the DNC.

Kerry's supporters can still donate to the Democratic National Committee after July 29, and so he should accept the $75 million.

[seabeyond]

4. what does the dnc do with the money

i dont see ads from them

[Eric J in MN]

9. I'm expecting we will see DNC ads starting in August (nt)

nt

[fujiyama]

2. What are the real drawbacks

if Kerry opted out? I can't really see much, except for some harping and whining by RWers on FOX news.

Kerry is raising money like crazy. He knows that even if he opts out, and Bush does the same, he'll still be ok, as there will be less time between the RNC and the election. Plus, the only reason the RNC is probably opting in the system is that they figure $75M should be enough (and they probably have some other dirty tricks up their sleeve around the Sep/Oct timeframe). Kerry really isn't at the huge money disadvantage that many believed he'd be at.

[Nite Owl]

3. Bush* has spent so much already.

I wonder if they can raise that much more especially if his numbers aren't very good. If Kerry opts out he should be able to raise alot. Maybe this could throw a wrench in their plans. They are depending on Kerry not having money in August. I know the DNC and moveon will step in then but why not Kerry money for ads too.

[LoZoccolo]

5. Yes, real smart, wait until September and find out...

...that Bush* is opting out. What's the matter with them? An entire month will pass before they even know if Bush* is opting out and by then it's too late. Oh geez. I can't believe all we've done, and it's coming down to one bad decision.

[LoZoccolo]

6. What KILLS me is there's this built-in disadvantage they're accepting!

That being, they have to stretch it over an entire month longer than Bush* has to!

[LoZoccolo]

10. And this is like the first time I've really criticized his campaign!

Normally I'm supportive, even the stuff that is a little more strategically complex than what a lot of people understand (like when he said that no matter if he or Bush* wins, the terrorists lose - I thought that was an ingenious move considering he was lagging on that issue in the public eye; that way, he pulls forward and catches up). But this is the first time I'm gonna go off - do the right thing and opt out! We'll back you up! I wan't you to win, man, that's why I'm getting loud! I think he may even have enough left over pre-convention to cover a lot of the $75 million he'd give up!

[Hekate]

7. Kerry should win the election

...Providing we have one at all. Just for the moment I don't care whether he gets public financing or not. Just that he supplants Bush in the Oval Office.

Hekate

[Spiffarino]

8. Considering the amount of cash Kerry's raised so far...

It would be insane to take the $75 million. Kerry could raise that much in a month after the convention.

Rove's plan is obvious; to spend like drunken sailors on negative ads through August right up to the Repub convention and take the bounce out of the Democratic ticket. It would also be no surprise if they said, "Oops...just kidding!" and gave up the $75 mil so they can spend their massive war chest on Kerry-bashing ads all the way into November.

If the Kerry-Edwards ticket is to have a chance, they have to forget about government financing and trust us to fill their campaign coffers. This is the most important election of our lifetimes, and we can't leave it to chance. We'll pony up.

[King of New Orleans]

11. I expect he'll accept it

Money can be spent by the DNC. Kerry can even donate his excess cash at the end of July (of which he'll have plenty) to the national party.

Bush will take the money too. Most of his donors have maxed out. They don't have the grassroots/internet base that the Dems developed in the primaries.

[CaTeacher]

12. I would accept it

even though he could raise more--he needs to concentrate on campaigning--not fund raising. Different crowds and stuff for the most part. We need a concentrated push campaigning at the end. Hopefully the DNC will pick up any slack and help him out with a few more million...

I don't trust the repugs though..but 75 mill should be enough for them--they only have a few weeks left by the time they are restricted from fund raising