The 2008 presidential election certainly showed the impact that pulling in the right electorate can have on the result of an election (in some literal sense, the Obama campaign got more people on their side to care enough to vote). I think that is the most powerful effect money can have on an election.
I don't think campaign dollars have such a big impact on the elections of Senators and Representatives. Maybe Senators, but for representatives, the primary force right now is the shape of the districts.
What I'd like to see is the removal of the special seats that the parties have at the table. Make it staged signature collection for everybody, for everything.
(staged in the sense that 5 signatures would be enough to be the only name on the ballot but not enough to show up next to 3 other people that collected 1000+ signatures)
Shapes maybe indicate that Democrat or Republican wins, but doesn't indicate with one. With enough money you can outdemocrat any Democrat or outrepublican any Republican. After election they better play ball or next time no one will give them any money.
I don't think campaign dollars have such a big impact on the elections of Senators and Representatives. Maybe Senators, but for representatives, the primary force right now is the shape of the districts.
What I'd like to see is the removal of the special seats that the parties have at the table. Make it staged signature collection for everybody, for everything.
(staged in the sense that 5 signatures would be enough to be the only name on the ballot but not enough to show up next to 3 other people that collected 1000+ signatures)