Turning the Tables: Individual Contributions, Member Contributions, and the Changing Campaign Finance Environment

Abstract

The BCRA soft money ban enacted in 2002 posed a serious challenge to Democrats. Could they compete in fundraising with the Republicans in a hard money only environment? Some even went so far as to suggest that BCRA was a "suicide bill" for the Democrats. Such dire predictions have not proven true. Democrats have exploited good candidates, strong party committee leadership, messaging, and technology to be competitive with the Republican Party overall in fundraising among individuals. The surge in individual donors to the Democrats is most pronounced in the 2008 presidential race but extends to the two congressional campaign committees as well.