With it looking pretty certain that spending on the 2008 Presidential campaign will exceed one billion dollars, I think we'd all agree that conversations about finance reforms are timely. But when faced with the reality of taking public funding and being outspent by 800 million dollars, potential candidates tend to either agree in principal to reform, although not for this race, or avoid the issue.

That's another reason why I think Barack is refreshing. Now, cynics will say that by requesting the ability to accept private donations, then return them later (should his opponent agree to also use public funds,) Obama has managed to co-opt the issue without actually doing anything. Maybe, but let's look at it without cynicism.

If granted this permission, Obama would be able to maintain a financially viable candidacy throughout the primaries. He will, after all, be battling Hillary, whose fund-raising capability is widely regarded as her biggest strength and who will never agree give up her trump card by taking public money. Then, should Obama become the nominee, he could put the offer on the table, man to man, to McCain (probably.) Given McCain's past stance on the issue and that, after a very contentious primary season, he'll be desperate to maintain any shred of the honest, non-politician image that remains, he may well agree.

And were that to happen, the public fund would receive at least a five hundred million dollars infusion of funds. Plus, once candidates from both parties agreed to public funds, would we ever go back?

Granted, this is all speculation. But why not hope for the best?

Analogcabin @ 9:55 AM
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