During Senate debate over campaign reform this year, he waved around a brochure attacking a fellow Republican. Fine print identified the brochure as a product of the state Democratic Party. GOP groups launched similar attacks. Some say banning soft money would further dilute the influence of parties. If you take soft money out of the equation, it'll probably have a dramatic effect on political parties,'' says Paul Shumaker, a GOP strategist from Raleigh.
Critics worry less about the effect of big money on parties than on voters.
We need to reconnect people with their government,'' says Marian Dodd of Raleigh, new president of the N.C. League of Women Voters. People know money buys influence and access, so there should be . . . A case study In North Carolina, corporations can't give directly to state parties or candidates. So many find indirect ways to help. Consider these contributions raised on behalf of 1996 gubernatorial candidate Robin Hayes.