"Governor Dean attends the grassroots $393,000-and-counting luncheon"

[dajabr]

"with over 7,500 supporters at Burlington, HQ this afternoon. (He's getting ready to blog in this photo.) Note his $3-a-plate turkey sandwich lunch."

http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000834.html

I love it! $3-a-plate sandwich. Bet you it's better than a hotdog.

Dean's post:

Thank you for everything you're doing

This has been an absolutely incredible day. Thank you!

Over 7500 of you have made a contribution either today or over the weekend. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your efforts. I know many of you are out there, not just today but everyday, working hard to spread the word about our campaign. You are making the difference in this campaign every time you bring another person in the door and every time you go out with flyers and tell people that we are taking our country back.

Keep it going. We've still got a ways to go, but you are proving that the grassroots have the power to change the way politics is done in this country, and I believe you are changing it for the better. What you have shown today is that George W. Bush can be beaten in 2004.

Keep up the good work, and thanks again for everything you're doing.

http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/000832.html

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

1. $3 lunch!

Dean's campaign has done an amazing job rallying up the masses!

**For clarification**
I am teacher4dean with a new handle (changed to my all-internet name instead of having to switch back and forth for different boards).

Go Dean Go!!

[Madball02]

2. wow, go dean

I support John Kerry and I dont think Howard will win; but gawd he is really rallying the liberals.

Way to go Dean!

[caledesi]

3. Awesome, but could someone here explain "matching funs" for candidate?

[dajabr]

4. caledesi...

I ventured into the murky depths of a giant Federal Election Commission PDF file for you today to pull you some info - and my head hurts! I'll try to come back later and post something coherent on the matter.

:hi:

[sfecap]

5. Basically this is the deal on matching funds....

It's administered by the FEC. Federal matching funds match donations made by individual contributors dollar-for-dollar up to a maximum of $250 per donation.

Candidates are not obliged to take matching funds, but if they opt to do so they must restrict their spending to a maximum of approximately $40m during the presidential primary period.

Funding is paid out in three stages:

Matching funds for the primaries
A block grant for the conventions
A further block grant for the general election

Those who decline matching funds are free from any spending limits (although they are still bound by contribution limits including the $1000 limit from each individual).

This stems from a 1975 Supreme Court ruling, Buckley v. Valeo, which stated that donating money was a form of expression protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

To qualify for funds, candidates need to show they are viable by raising at least $100,000 in individual donations, including at least $5,000 in each of 20 states.

[caledesi]

6. Thank you. Explained beautifully.