How much money is spent on presidential elections?

State-by-state primary limits

Can you use your own money for a political campaign?

The candidate When candidates use or loan their personal funds for campaign purposes, they are making contributions to their campaigns. Unlike other contributions, these candidate contributions are not subject to any limits.

How do campaigns raise money?

Tactics for raising money may include direct mail solicitation, attempts to encourage supporters to contribute via the Internet, direct solicitation from the candidate, and events specifically for the purpose of fundraising, or other activities.

How are campaigns financed?

Under the presidential public funding program, eligible presidential candidates receive federal government funds to pay for the qualified expenses of their political campaigns in both the primary and general elections. Fund the major party nominees’ general election campaigns (and assist eligible minor party nominees).

What does campaign money pay for?

Campaign funds may be used to make donations or loans to bona fide charitable, educational, civic, religious, or similar tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations as long as the donation or loan is reasonably related to a political, legislative, or governmental purpose.

Can campaign funds be used for legal defense?

Payment of Certain Legal Expenses. The Ethics Committee has determined that it is generally permissible under House Rules for a Member to use campaign funds to defend legal actions arising out of his or her campaign, election, or the performance of official duties.

Is a political campaign a nonprofit?

Political parties; campaign committees for candidates for federal, state or local office; and political action committees are all political organizations subject to tax under IRC section 527 and may have filing requirements with the Service. A brief description of the requirements for exemption under IRC section 527.

What are the most expensive items in a campaign’s budget?

Television advertising is by far the most expensive item in a campaign’s budget. Air time in major markets in key swing states can cost a campaign millions of dollars. Obama spent much of his money in 2008 advertising in large – and expensive – markets in battleground states. The eventual Republican nominee will have to blanket those markets, too.

How can we prevent double counting of campaign donations?

To prevent double counting, we excluded money donated from one candidate to another as well as money transferred to party committees. The amount of money party committees, including the DNC and RNC, spent on election activities in the same period.

What does PAC money spend?

The amount spent by political action committees on “overhead” expenses, like salaries and office rentals. Much PAC money is spent on candidate contributions, but we include that money elsewhere.