Interest Groups & Electoral Politics, Part II

On fundraising:

• PACs stick with incumbents


• Economic sectors divide contributions differently


• Republicans had a hard-money advantage in the past.


• But so far, not this year.

Political parties consist of:

• Party in the electorate


• Party organization


• Party in government

Interest groups influence all three levels.



Unions do a good deal of phone banking:





Lobbyists can still finance convention activities.

As Dan's post suggests (below), Act Blue is very active.

Emily's List has had an impact on the Democratic Party: