2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Sorry Bros, But Bernie Doesn't Have a Chance in California [View all]PufPuf23
(8,774 posts)Folks are free to spend their time and monies as they wish, many do not agree with you. People in some states, like myself in California, have yet to primary vote and candidates are still active in campaign mode.
Weak sauce is comparing the finances of Sanders with Clinton. The candidates do not live in the same world of relative wealth.
By law, POTUS candidates cannot use campaign money for personal use.
From: http://www.factcheck.org/2008/11/personal-use-of-campaign-money/
Q: Can the presidential candidates keep their campaign money?
A: No. They can donate any contributions they havent spent to charities or political parties, and they can pay leftover campaign bills. The big rule is: no personal use.
As Bob Biersack from the Federal Election Commission points out, most candidates dont have much left over to begin with. Campaigning is expensive, and leftover money gets used for bills and debts first, including expenses incurred while winding down an abandoned campaign or a lost political office.
Candidates do sometimes end up with surplus funds, though, particularly if theyre incumbent members of Congress who decide not to run for another term. State and local governments have their own rules, but those running for federal office including presidential candidates must abide by strict FEC guidelines when it comes to their extra campaign money. They can donate an unlimited amount to a charity or political party. They can also, within limits, make contributions directly to other candidates. A campaign committee can give up to $2,000 per election to each candidate. If the committee is converted into a political action committee, the limit jumps to $5,000 but to be established as a PAC, the committee would have to be in existence for six months, receive contributions from 50 donors, and make contributions to five recipients.
What candidates cant do with leftover money is use it for personal expenses. Retiring federal lawmakers used to be able to pocket extra cash and use it for cars, vacations, clothes, pet grooming, whatever but that changed in 1989 with the passage of the Ethics Reform Act.