Right now, Americans abroad can get the biggest bang for their buck by contributing to Democrats Abroad and recent election successes assure Democrats Abroad greater clout when arguing for legislative issues that significantly impact all Americans living abroad, regardless of their political ideology.
All posts tagged Campaign Finance
Fundraising among Americans Abroad
CNN is reporting on another high-profile fundraiser among Americans abroad. According to CNN, George Clooney is going to host a two part fundraiser in Geneva on September 2 for Senator Barack Obama.
The increased reliance on fundraising among Americans abroad should help to raise the profile of our issues in Washington. And since both presidential campaigns are doing it, with Senator McCain slated to have a fundraiser in Canada this month, it bodes well for Americans overseas regardless of who wins in November.
Presidential Candidates’ Unprecedented Fundraising Abroad
According to the Washington Post, U.S. presidential candidates “unprecedented courtship” of Americans abroad is paying off with more than $3 million raised so far.
2008 Presidential Campaign Expands Abroad
As I wrote earlier this month, Senator Barak Obama’s wife Michelle is slated to be in London for fundraisers next month. And now other candidates, both Democrats and Republicans are doing the same. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:
“The hunt for cash, political cachet and votes is taking some of the 2008 presidential campaigns far from their usual cross-country tours to cross the pond to woo Americans living abroad.“
The article points out the synergies that campaigning abroad offers. Doing so allows candidates to raise money, court American voters abroad (6.6 million according to the article) and encourage them to vote, all while bolstering their foreign policy credentials.
According to The Miami Herald, which published a fuller version of the same article, the campagins realize that Americans abroad are an untapped resource of votes and campaign contributions. Today, it seems Americans abroad have the attention of the candidates as we never have before.
“With hundreds of thousands of expatriate voters registered in battleground states such as Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio in 2004, Democratic and Republican party officials launched large international get-out-the-vote drives.Republicans Abroad spent $285,000 that year on a voter drive that mainly consisted of ads in The Miami Herald, Canada’s National Post, the Guadalajara Reporter, The Jerusalem Post and Stars and Stripes.
The Democratic National Committee and Democrats Abroad spent about $182,000 in 2004 on international advertising, voter registration and direct mailings. Democratic and Republican officials say they expect to be more aggressive during the 2008 presidential campaign.
”We know that elections are getting tighter and tighter and every vote counts,” Finney said. “This is a competitive cycle, and campaigns are being very aggressive in looking for votes and funds in all places.”"
Getting Attention
Money talks in Washington. Cliché, yes, but also an undeniable fact. One way Americans living abroad can guarantee that they have the ear of elected officials is to donate to their campaigns. Senator Kerry recognized this in 2004 and appointed his sister Diana Kerry as Chair of Americans Overseas for Kerry.
Now, ABS News reports that Senator Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle Obama, is slated to travel to London in October to attend two fundraisers in support of Senator Obama’s presidential bid.
According to Democrats Abroad’s website, Americans living abroad are subject to the following campaign finance limitations:
“Campaign Contribution Limits: Individual donations to campaigns (Presidential, Senatorial, Congressional): $2,000 per calendar year. Individual means just that; one person writes a cheque on his or her personal bank account. Party giving: $25,000 per calendar year to the Democratic Party, including the national party and Democrats Abroad aggregate and is personal funds only.”
For a access to all the Federal campaign finance laws visit the Federal Election Commission’s campaign finance law website. OpenSecrets, the website of The Center for Responsive Politics, has an easy-to-use chart that lays out the hard money (generally regulated contributions from individuals and Politcal Action Committees (“PACs”)) contribution limits.
