Cain's Campaign Buys $86K of His Own Books

(Newser) – Herman Cain’s campaign has spent $86,523 buying copies of the candidate’s autobiography and other books—and it’s buying them from Herman Cain THE New Voice, Cain’s own motivational speaking company. “They are buying my books and my pamphlets,” Cain confirmed for Bloomberg, but his campaign says the purchases are within FEC rules because it’s paying retail price for them. But critics note that FEC rules only allow such purchases if the candidate isn’t profiting from the sale.

“All candidates publish books and offer them as premiums to donors,” explains the executive director of the nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation, “but most candidates aren’t buying them from their own companies.” Indeed, Cain has funneled more than $100,000 to T.H.E New Voice overall, Talking Points Memo reports. An early report listed payments for things like “lodging,” and “airfare,” but a report filed last week amended that, placing all that money under the category of “books,” while adding yet more for “event supplies." Cain's campaign wouldn't elaborate on the payments. The candidate has lent his campaign $675,000 of his own money, TPM notes.