Under CMCR, participating candidates receive additional funding if they are out spent by non-participating opponents. Thus, it enables qualified individuals to run for office on a financially level playing field regardless of their personal economic status. These estimates are based on generous assumptions regarding the cost of basic Clean Money grants to participating candidates for both the primary and general elections and the cost of additional funding to respond to independent expenditures and excess spending by privately financed candidates. The public strongly supports this reform model. According to a national survey conducted by The Mellman Group for Public Campaign released April 3, more than two-thirds of the public favors comprehensive reform of the campaign finance system offering full public financing to candidates in both primary and general elections.
Voters show little sympathy for one oft-used argument against campaign finance reform.
It's time for those in Congress to recognize what the public already understands - we need Clean Money Campaign Reform to decrease the importance of access to money on who can run for office. It's a real opportunity for me.