tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post3998291384149748958..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: How to GiveJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-28350342530453829352011-09-27T12:19:45.988-05:002011-09-27T12:19:45.988-05:00What about rewarding an incumbent President who mo...What about rewarding an incumbent President who moves closer to one's views?<br /><br />If small contributions increase when Obama defends SS & Medicare, but fell when he negotiated the deficit deal, isn't that a signal the campaign will understand?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-11646694137695450572011-09-26T16:50:13.078-05:002011-09-26T16:50:13.078-05:00Anon,
Yes, and thanks. Corrected.Anon,<br /><br />Yes, and thanks. Corrected.Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-42839083720179652792011-09-26T16:48:19.499-05:002011-09-26T16:48:19.499-05:00One other thing worth pointing out is that Obama w...One other thing worth pointing out is that Obama will need a lot less money this time around, since he won't be campaigning in any primaries.TNhttp://www.debris-slide.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-72382776932961674602011-09-26T16:38:41.370-05:002011-09-26T16:38:41.370-05:00Is this quote a typo: "In practical terms, th...Is this quote a typo: "In practical terms, that means that money matters more in general elections (when the strong effect of party identification is in play) than it does in primary elections."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-39728662542976057192011-09-26T14:17:26.652-05:002011-09-26T14:17:26.652-05:00Meh.
You're working with the assumption that ...Meh.<br /><br />You're working with the assumption that a dollar is like a vote. Well, they are: hard money doesn't count toward the final result.<br /><br />With a bundler, at least when you raise 50K that gets some points for person who bundled. But small dollar internet donations: nada.<br /><br />So you've got to look at the moviations of the small dollar internet donor. What does he want? Fame ? fortune? A picture of the president? Because you are not getting any of the usual goodies (advance team bringing you the rope line,etc)<br /><br />What small donors really want -- and the Republicans discovered this back in the 1980s -- is partisan consistency. That is why Obama is suffering now and getting no love from them.charlienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-14916167018481733112011-09-26T13:45:28.996-05:002011-09-26T13:45:28.996-05:00I think you're exactly right that individual d...I think you're exactly right that individual donations to smaller campaigns are money better spent, at least in terms of influence on the election outcome and policy outcomes afterwards.<br /><br />I think, also, your bias is a little obvious. Granted I can't quite prove that a school board member is more important to an individual who makes donations. But it strikes me that that school board has more direct influence over policy that has more direct influence on the lives of constituents.<br /><br />Furthermore, it strikes me that a school board member has very good odds to run and win other races to elective office. Thus, in the long run, a school board race, if successfull, could have tremendous long-term influence over a wide range of policy. Just look at Obama. He started with a relatively small office and well...<br /><br />That's typical story.Ericnoreply@blogger.com