(Dumb?) question: Can candidates give $ donated to them to others?

[DeepModem Mom]

If you contribute to Candidate A, can he or she give your money to Candidate B? This question has to do with calls for candidates with surplus campaign funds to share them with candidates in competitive races. I assume those candidates with PACS can do whatever they want with them, but what about regular contributions?

[grizmaster]

1. There are some rules, but yes

Foley gave over $100,000 to the RSCC (not sure if I got the acronym right) just before he resigned

[soothsayer]

2. which are the funds they are allowed to keep? cuz some of them

rrrrreally make out like bandits with the leftovers.

[pscot]

3. Absolutely.

Josh Marshall has been advocating axactly that. Unopposed Democrats, or those in lightly contested districts, can and should help out those Dems who are trying to beard the Republicans in their den. I just put up a post on my state thread (Washington) urging people to press their reps to help out Darcy Burner and Peter Goldmark. There's a lot at stake here. Why leave money on the sidelines when iit can be put to good use?

[stellanoir]

4. Not sure but I vividly remember people griping about

Kerry not donating his surplus from '04 to the democratic party.

Not sure how that was resolved or if it even was. I'm so informative. /sarcasm.

Ever noticed that folks love to complain around here. . .?

:hi:

[wiley]

5. Interest bearing or profit making accounts

There is a whole industry that Republicans have turned into a financial social club where those with excess cash invest those funds in speculative or other types of accounts to create resources for the next election or the current election. Smart Democrats have gotten on board. Don't lose bucks on the market, however!

A candidate can pretty much give money to whomever, but the overriding concern is what people who have contributed to your campaign will think. Might be very hard raising money next time around or next week if Candidate X is giving away money to Candidate Y.

But there is nothing that prevents candidates from giving funds to the DNC, Schumer's or Emmanuel's Senate or House committees.

The best thing to do is to increase the donor base through 5, 10 and 25 dollar contributors. New, first time donors are worth their weight in gold, especially in traditionally Republican areas. Second time donors at the same amount are priceless as well.