During the general election season, presidential candidates receive a lump sum in return for not accepting any further private donations. To receive matching public funds as a presidential candidate and to adhere to other campaign finance laws, a candidate must agree to certain rules and restrictions. Under current law there are limits to how much individuals and groups may contribute to individual candidates in each election cycle, and detailed ways in which candidates must identify and report contributions they receive from contributors. Every rule has exceptions and in the world of campaign finance lines have been blurred, loopholes discovered and vagueness exploited. Put simply, while the letter of the law is often honored to, the spirit of the law is flouted.
Soft money comes with fewer strings attached than hard money.
The line between candidate support and party activity is blurred under the best of circumstances. In 1996, many argued that the distinction was simply ignored by both major political parties. Outrage over the abuses in 1996 has fueled a more intense call for campaign finance reform, particularly during this election season. Two pieces of legislation have achieved some degree of bipartisan support and have moved the furthest in Congress, though neither has been passed into law. Incumbents have learned the system, won at least one election and are now experienced fundraisers.