Question about donating to Kerry (possibly stupid)

[mrgorth]

I convinced the wife to let me make 1 big (for us) donation to Kerry. How does the spending work? I've heard that after a certain point the only money Kerry and Bush can spend is the money the FEC gives them. If so when is the best time.

Also, (really stupid) I know a lot of Dean supporters waited until Dean sent the donation request in order to show his influence. Does that work or not really?

Thanks.

[mr_hat]

1. He's not at all stupid. Donate freely.

[Onlooker]

2. I've wondered the same thing

I'm making a monthly contribution to the Kerry campaign. The Kerry website says that they'll charge my credit card every month up until the end of July. So, it seems like there's another period after July where they're able to solicit funds again. It would be helpful if someone clarified this.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

3. It's simple...

You contact the Kerry campaign. You send them a check. The check can be up to $2000 for each one of you, so that's $4000. Oh, and after Kerry's formal nomination, you can do it again. Another $4000.

There is no need to show "influence". That's a primary type of thing - "my candidate has a better shot against Bush than your does". We already know that Kerry is our guy. Influence is no longer necessary.

As far as the spending goes, whatever you send under that $8000 limit can be spent by Kerry any way he wants. If you have more than that, then you'll have to donate to a 527, one of the non-affiliated groups who also want to make their opinions heard.

Personally, I'm not at that hard money limit yet, so this isn't a problem for me.

- C.D.

[RoyGBiv]

4. FEC Funds

Kerry is not participating in the matching funds program anyway, which gives them certain freedoms in the way they spend money and how they acquire it.

http://www.fec.gov/press/press2004/20040331matching.html