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December 1, 2008 9:49:59 AM CST

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FEC news stories

9 Stories

Spreadsheets Can't Handle Democrats' Haul

FEC, watchdogs, Excel struggle to keep up with bulging bank accounts

Politico Politico May 26, 08 11:16 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Democratic presidential candidates have raised so much money that the FEC can’t handle the data, Politico reports. Barack Obama’s January report was so big that industry standard spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel 2003 couldn’t handle it. By March, Hillary Clinton had also broken the Excel barrier—a mere 65,536 rows and 256 columns. More »

OPINION

How the Left Wing Brought Me Down

Ex-election watchdog nominee details 'poisonous tactics'

Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal May 20, 08 4:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - Controversial civil-rights lawyer Hans von Spakovsky, who last week withdrew from consideration for appointment to the Federal Election Commission, pens a post-mortem of his own candidacy in the Wall Street Journa l. Asserting that “character assassination … has become the norm” for conservatives in confirmation battles, von Spakovsky says calling out Justice left-wingers was a key part of his downfall. More »

More about:  Nazi • ACLU • partisanship • Ku Klux Klan • FEC • Hans von Spakovsky

OPINION

 Election Watchdog Pick
 Absurdly Partisan 

Already-crippled FEC can't afford to see dismissed chief replaced by Bush crony: Times

New York Times New York Times May 8, 08 2:31 PM CDT
(Newser) - President Bush’s latest maneuvering with the Federal Election Commission does nothing to fix the standoff over unacceptable nominees, New York Times editors argue. Instead, the White House has made it worse, moving to can the chairman who questioned John McCain’s “funding machinations”—and sub in a Tom DeLay ethics lawyer. With four vacancies on the six-member body—in an election year, no less—a quick fix is needed. More »

More about:  John McCain • George W. Bush • Tom DeLay • FEC • Hans von Spakovsky • David Mason

Hillary Camp
in the Red
Last Month

Campaign raked in dollars but spent big and owes millions

Talking Points Memo Talking Points Memo Mar 22, 08 5:25 PM CDT
(Newser) - Hillary Clinton’s campaign is in debt despite a massive influx of donations last month, according to FEC filings. She raised $35 million in February, spent $31 million and ended up with $33 million—but most of it is reserved for the general election and the rest is owed. However, $5 million of that debt is to herself and need not be repaid. More »

Obama Pulled In $32M in January

Meanwhile, McCain makes headway after beginning '08 in debt

Washington Post Washington Post Jan 31, 08 11:34 AM CST
(Newser) - Barack Obama has raised $32 million this month, the Washington Post reports—a massive number in such a short span. The Democrat's campaign manager reported 170,000 new donors in January, raising the total number of contributors to 650,000. The best fundraising day was immediately following Hillary Clinton’s Jan. 8 victory in New Hampshire—which the Obama camp interprets as showing “the resolve” of supporters. More »

Deadlock Shuts Down Election Commission

Spat over nominees means no campaign funds after Jan 1

Washington Post Washington Post Dec 22, 07 9:57 AM CST
(Newser) - A standoff in Congress will force the agency that doles out federal campaign dollars and polices political spending to go dark on New Year's Eve—just in time for the start of the primaries, the Washington Post reports. The Federal Election Commission needs four votes from its six members to take any action; as of January 1, it'll only have two members. More »

Edwards Could Lose Millions in Matching Funds

$4.3M in ActBlue
web donations may violate election law

Politico Politico Nov 19, 07 4:08 PM CST
(Newser) - A tricky online fundraising format could dent John Edwards’ clean donations reputation—and cost him millions in federal funds. Edwards is the only top-tier Democrat accepting public financing, which matches individual donations up to $250. The system's exclusion of  funds “drawn on the account of a committee” may imperil matching for $4.3 million from ActBlue, which funnels online donations, the Politico reports. More »

Blogger Claims Thompson Must Declare

Prolonged 'testing the water' status may violate election laws

ABC News ABC News Aug 21, 07 1:34 PM CDT
(Newser) - Fred Thompson’s continued undeclared status—even while headlining GOP dinners and glad-handing at the Iowa state fair—is beginning to raise hackles. Federal election law says non-candidates can't spend more than $5,000 on campaign activities; liberal blogger Lane Hudson has filed a complaint that charges the former senator is over the limit. More »

More about:  Election 2008 • Fred Thompson • presidential primaries • IRS • Pat Robertson • FEC • candidacy

Democrats Winning Money Race

$100M ahead of GOP in fund raising

Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal Jul 23, 07 6:43 AM CDT
(Newser) - Democrats are trouncing Republicans in the fundraising race leading up to 2008, raking in $100 million more in contributions for their presidential and congressional campaigns, the Journal reports. The trend puts the Democrats on track to outspend the GOP in a general election for the first time since records were kept 30 years ago. More »

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