Trimming The Campaign Fat

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 28) -- Does Robert Dole (R-Kan.) have a money problem in his race against President Bill Clinton? As a recipient of federal matching funds, he's fast approaching the $37 million primary limit. He could hit the fundraising limit by mid-April.

Not to worry, says a former official for the Federal Election Commission.

"I think there are ways for the Dole campaign to go about the country and get its message out without spending a lot of money," former FEC chairman Trevor Potter told the Associated Press.

Bye Bye, Campaign Jet Among Dole's (mostly cash-free) options:

Campaigning from the Senate
Shifting campaign workers to the RNC
Campaigning for other candidates
One-on-one interviews with local news programs

"In an unprecedented way, the RNC (Republican National Committee) will have the role of keeping the Republican message in front of voters," RNC chairman Haley Barbour acknowledged Wednesday.

Armed with some $20 million, the Clinton-Gore campaign smugly anticipates holding the upper hand in the ad wars between now and the fall campaign when Dole can start to spend again. Most voters, of course, don't even begin to pay serious attention to the presidential race until then.

Dole Creeping Up On Spending Cap -- March 8, 1996

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Trimming The Campaign Fat

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