It is to the people. McCain and Feingold dramatized their message before the debate opened Monday with a walk to each party's national committee offices in Washington. The McCain-Feingold bill would ban soft money, restrict political advertising by independent groups and enact greater disclosure requirements.
Critics argue the bill's limits on spending violate the First Amendment's right to free expression.
Sen. Chuck Hagel, who is offering a rival bill, warned that McCain-Feingold would limit the ability of people to get involved in politics. We are going to hear a number of examples of how messy and unfair democracy is in the course of this debate. Hagel's bill is more in line with principles President Bush outlined last week. In the 2000 elections, Democrats matched Republicans in the race for soft money for the first time. Feingold predicted Democrats will stand united in support of change.