Are there federal limits on how much an individual can give to a Presidential campaign?

[TechBear_Seattle]

I am looking at the resources that Winfrey is putting into Obama's campaign, and I have to wonder how legal this is. In many states, there are very strict limits to how much an individual can contribute to an election campaign run under state law. In Washington (according to our Supreme Court,) giving air time to the point of advocacy (as distinct from simply reporting news) can be classed as a reportable (and therefore limitable) "in-kind" contribution. I look at everything that Winfrey is doing and.... Wow.

Are there limits with regards to donations to a presidential campaign? Or would it be legal for Winfrey to almost single handedly buy Obama the nomination and election? (I am not saying she is, just presenting an exaggerated scenario.)

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

1. I've been wondering the same thing. Looking forward to

the responses.

[NoPasaran]

2. I believe the federal limit for an individual is $2,300 in the primary

And another $2,300 for the general election.

[1corona4u]

3. $4600.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Ok, so $2,300 in the primary and $2300 in the general. Which begs my main question

Assuming that includes in-kind contributions, how can Winfrey's efforts be legal? From everything I've been hearing, she is doing a great deal more more than just appearing with him on stage.

Again, I want to emphasize that I have nothing against Obama or Winfrey, I am just trying to understand the situation.

[MonkeyFunk]

5. Well

what more is she doing? She's allowed to use her fame to endorse him and appear with him, and she's allowed to say so on her show.

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. There was a lawsuit in Washingotn a while back

A pair of conservative talk show hosts in Seattle gave "an inordinate amount of air coverage" to a state initiative. All of the airtime was in support of the initiative, no time was given to opponents of the initiative and no other initiatives received a similar amount of air on their show. The state Supreme Court eventually ruled that this amounted to an in-kind contribution that had to be reported to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Had the subject been a candidate (which has campaign contribution limits) rather than a ballot measure (which does not,) the candidate's campaign would have been required to repay the program the amount of the assessed value of the coverage which was above the campaign limits; otherwise the radio hosts, the program, its producers, the radio station, the candidate and the candidate's campaign could all have been held criminally liable for election violations.

I'm trying to figure out what federal laws say on this matter. :hi: