The first quarter of the first campaign for governor under the public financing system is complete and it’s clear money doesn’t matter as much as it used to. It’s too early to say whether that’s a good or a bad thing, but credit former Speaker Jim Amann for pointing it out for the rest of us.
The first quarter reports show Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy and Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz leading Amann and Gov. M. Jodi Rell in donations.
Under the old system, this would be seen as an early win for Malloy because donations are viewed as a kind of poll in most political campaigns. The candidate with the most donors, and money to show for it, is deemed to have the most support from active partisans and is therefore a front runner.
But Malloy hardly got a bump, in fact, except for a story in his local paper and a few follow-ups after that. His first fundraising report was barely noticed.
Dwindling Press Corps
One reason is the state’s dwindling political press corps. At a time when less than a dozen journalists in the state are actually assigned to consistently cover state politics and government, checking up on fundraising efforts at the start of a two-year campaign is not high up on the list of things to do.
Another reason Malloy’s early lead didn’t get much notice is because under public financing regulations all a candidate for governor has to do to qualify for state funds is raise $250,000 in what are considered small donations. If you can meet that minimum, you have automatic access to $1 million for the primary season and $3 million — if you win the nomination — for the general election.
Amann, who raised about half of what Malloy did, explained that’s why the money race is no longer a race; it’s more like an assignment. There is a due date for raising your money, but if you get your work in on time you still get your public funds and your opponent gets no extra credit for getting his work in early.
Begging For Donations
Still, one of the ironies of the new system is that candidates have to show their proficiency with the old system — on a smaller scale — before they can play. In other words, to prove you are a viable candidate you have to go out and beg people for money just like all the corrupt politicians that populated Connecticut government before this new law took effect.
It is comforting to know that none of the candidates for governor in the 2010 race will ever be tempted to favor their early donors if they attain office. Since most of the money they will use to win election will come from the people of the state through the clean elections fund, early supporters will have to stand in line behind the rest of us for their helping of good government.
In this early test of public financing at the statewide level, it appears the new system will favor incumbents. While public financing of legislative races is putting too much money into campaigns, at the gubernatorial level there may not be enough for a challenger to overcome the advantages held by a sitting governor.
A challenger must use his $3 to $4 million to introduce himself to the voters, make a case for his own candidacy and draw a contrast with the incumbent. The incumbent can use that same amount simply to convince us to stay the course.
Ultimately, money still matters, but not in the way it once did.
Dean Pagani is a former gubernatorial advisor. He is vice president of public affairs for Cashman and Katz Integrated Communications in Glastonbury.
Reader response:
“Nice article but it would have been nice if you listed how much each candidate had raised.” — A. Painter
