Contextualizing Clinton Campaign Cost

The Daily News has a rundown of some of the things the $212 million Hillary Clinton spent on her presidential bid could have bought instead. According to Celeste Katz, the Clinton campaign could have paid for the following: sending more than 76,000 New York families to Disneyland, 9,838 Toyota Priuses, 70.7 million energy-efficient light bulbs, and several other amusing and ironic purchases. The $11 million Clinton gave her campaign could buy everyone in New York City a lottery ticket. The total campaign cost could have bought everyone in the city a movie ticket. Well, that last one says more about the cost of movies than it does about the cost of campaigns.

Although Hillary Clinton's campaign spent a fortune (as did Obama, but his campaign looks good because he got the nomination), she simply played the campaign finance game as it is played in this era. In order to compete on a battlefield of this magnitude, spending an absolute fortune is simply the ante. Kicking the candidate who lost while she's down may be fun and easy, but it's the system that needs kicking, not Senator Clinton. Plenty of others spent quite a bit more than the staggering $109,823 per delegate she spent. For example, her tally is nothing compared to the $48.8 million Rudy Giuliani spent on a single delegate during his failed bid for the Republican nomination. Mitt Romney put out quite a bit of economic stimulus as well, spending $98 million for just 282 delegates, nearly $350,000 per delegate. Romney's stings a little more because $42.3 million of it was his own money.

Before the 2008 Presidential campaign, the gold standard for farcical overspending was set by the 1996 bid for the Republican presidential nomination by John McCain's current economic adviser, and former Texas senator, Phil Gramm. Gramm's campaign spent $25 million for just 10 delegates. Republican campaign insiders coined the term for the money a candidate spends per delegate won the Gramm-o-meter. That kind of wasteful spending seems quaint in retrospect.

Recent Comments

(Page 1 of 5)
New Users

Current Users

Add your comments:

Latest Elections News Headlines

    No current headlines. Please try again later.

    Political Machine Photo Galleries

    Candidates' Favorite TV Shows
    Democrats Debate in Las Vegas
    Laura's Trip to Middle East
    Political Sex Scandals
    The Not-So Traditional 2008 Candidates
    Al Gore's Ups and Downs
    Spokespersons!
    Candidate Spouses

    Politics Video

    Security And Politics In Iraq

    Security And Politics In Iraq

    As the security situation improves In Iraq, there is still the question of political progress (September 5)
    Supporters: 'Palin Has a Record of Achievement'

    Supporters: 'Palin Has a Record of Achievement'

    Women supporting Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain's vice presidential pick, gathered in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday to call for an end to 'sexism' in politics. (Sept. 3)
    Obama: No Time for 'small' Politics

    Obama: No Time for 'small' Politics

    At a campaign event in Michigan, presidential nominee Barack Obama said with Hurricane Gustav eyeing the Gulf Coast, there is no time for 'small' politics. (September 1)
    A Trip of the Political Side of the State Fair

    A Trip of the Political Side of the State Fair

    The Minnesota State Fair is not only a marching ground for the school band, but a place for old school retail politics. The AP's John Mone takes a look at how elections are won at this great American gathering. (Aug. 31)
    Mo Rocca 180 - More Than Just Joe Biden!!!

    Mo Rocca 180 - More Than Just Joe Biden!!!

    Mo Rocca 180 - More Than Just Joe Biden!!!
    « See More Politics Video
    Register to Vote with Declare Yourself

    Declare Yourself is a campaign that encourages young Americans to register and vote.

    REGISTER TO VOTE NOW AT:
    www.declareyourself.org