Has anyone ever run a money-free campaign?

[KingFlorez]

I just wondered about this.

[crispini]

1. Google "Arizona clean elections"

it's about as close as you can get, I think. Not free but it's a great idea we should all do!

[flowomo]

2. it's not even clear to me what you mean by this...

what do mean by "money" (from whom and how?) and "campaign" (for what, of what kind?)

[KingFlorez]

3. I should have made it more clear

I meant political campaigns where the candidates don't spend money

[flowomo]

4. but they have to spend some money always....

just to file papers for example. You must have some "limit" in mind here. And do you mean for city council or US president -- quite a difference in the costs.

[Dr.Phool]

6. I ran one last year

I lost. Florida's 9th Congressional District. I got in too late to raise the funds, and you need $9500 just to get on the ballot. Calling people and begging for money was the most demeaning thing I've ever done.

I didn't know that being an effective telemarketer was a prerequisit for running for office.

[AllegroRondo]

5. There was one in Texas in 2004

where a candidate did not campaign, did not spend any money, and still won. The public was so fed up with the incumbant and dirty campaigning they voted for this guy instead. But it was only a minor local office.

[txaslftist]

7. Heh. Looks like we're about to try it in West Texas.

Not on purpose, though.

[Cleita]

8. Jerry Brown, in 1982, ran a campaign that accepted only

contributions from individuals for no more than $100. Considering that Clinton won the nomination, I guess it didn't work very well.

[elfin]

9. Proxmire (Wis. Sen, deceased)

used to run a VERY parsimonious campaign.