Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Bernie is Hustling the Democratic Party [View all]snowy owl
(2,145 posts)77. Hillary's Victory Fund might not be spent down ticket... read
Hillary's $18 Million "Victory Fund" could be spent helping her campaign
By bondibox
Sunday Jan 03, 2016 · 11:02 AM PST
Hillary Clinton has raised $18 Million for the DNC and state parties, money that is commonly referred to as a "victory fund." The assumption is that all of this money will go toward helping "downballot candidates" but that is not necessarily true.
During the primary campaign, donors are limited to $2,700 in direct contributions to the candidate. To elicit larger contributions from willing donors, a candidate can set up a Joint Fundraising Committee which allows donors to cut one check that gets distributed to the candidate as well as a state party and the national party. The first $2,700 goes to the candidate's campaign, and any additional money can go to the state party ($10,000 limit) and the national party ($33,400 limit). Clinton's campaign has so far raised $18 Million for the national and state parties.
However,
There is nothing stopping the state party from using the money to help the eventual nominee
Could that $18 Million be spent on helping Hillary's campaign? At least part of it can. I was unable to find out if that same lack of restriction also applies to the national party which receives the bulk of the JFC money.
It's also possible that some of that $18 Million could be spent on Bernie Sanders' campaign, should he win the party's nomination.
One could speculate that the closer the presidential race is between the Democrat and the Republican, the more likely it would be for these funds to go toward the presidential candidate rather than the downballot candidates. So the candidate who trails or only has a slight lead against the Republican might end up sucking away a portion of the victory funds otherwise meant for the downballot candidates. I'll leave it to the reader to interpret the polling of potential matchups and draw their own conclusions as to the various scenarios regarding the likelihood of that money being spent on the presidential candidate.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
95 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
"Has been" walking all over Hillary Clinton's historical aspirations. Yup.
cherokeeprogressive
Apr 2016
#61
Rather be told a plausible lie than a lazy, half thought through one that Sanders gives
uponit7771
Apr 2016
#45
I don't, he spends a lot of time at wingerish sophistry when it comes to Clinton
uponit7771
Apr 2016
#51
You do realize that money he would raise for the DNC NOW will end up in Hillary's pocket
DemocracyDirect
Apr 2016
#4
That is not what the evidence suggests. Much of it will go to my party./nt
DemocratSinceBirth
Apr 2016
#6
I'd rather see a cheap hustler who is hustling for me than an expensive one who is...
Armstead
Apr 2016
#22
How's Sanders screwing if down ballot dems hustling for you?... Do you guys understand how congress
uponit7771
Apr 2016
#47
The Victory Fund: how to buy super-delegates, from the Clinton Class. "There ain't nothing we can't
rhett o rick
Apr 2016
#9
There Has Not Been a Purely Liberal or Progressive Voting Coalition in a Almost a Century
Stallion
Apr 2016
#68
There's enough energy in the Bernie people for the Democratic Party to take over Congress...
DemocracyDirect
Apr 2016
#14
I've read many commenters here claim very aggressively that Bernie is the only candidate ....
salinsky
Apr 2016
#16
Hillary's kind of money makes certain that even if Dems win, the people lose
Dems to Win
Apr 2016
#39
Capehart who lied about Bernie's picture? My god they'll let anyone spew their propaganda at WaPo.
beam me up scottie
Apr 2016
#56