What do you call people who would spend $3.7 billion on an election?
For half of them, the word is “losers.”
According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, by the time that every dollar is spent and every check is cashed, estimates for the cost of the Nov. 2 contests will be more than $3.7 billion. And, yes, you read that right. That‘s $3.7 billion with a very big “B.”
The prediction includes spending by U.S. Senate and U.S. House candidates and political parties. It also estimates spending by so-called 527 committees and independent expenditures on advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts by outside political action committees to support and oppose candidates.
The total is unseemly and undemocratic. But, first, an aside.
We don’t mean to pillory all candidates. Running for political office is a noble calling and one that not nearly enough people consider doing. It’s hard work: doorbelling houses, attending political gatherings, putting your ideas before voters.
And, when it’s all over, it’s either win or lose. There’s no team here. A majority of voters either like you or the other person.
Having said that, it boggles the mind to consider that individuals and organizations would put up that much money for jobs that pay only a fraction of the total. Apparently, we really do get the best government — well, at least politicians — that money can buy.
There are staggering numbers even around here.
For our state’s U.S. Senate seat, incumbent Patty Murray raised in excess of $15 million to challenger Dino Rossi’s $7 million.
And Rep. Dave Reichert, who won his race to retail his 8th Congressional District seat, raised more than $2.3 million while his opponent, Suzan DelBene collected more than $3.7 million. Even more amazing, $2 million of that came from her own pocketbook.
Of course, that pales compared to Meg Whitman, the former chief executive of eBay who spent $141.5 million of her own money to become governor of California. Tuesday night she conceded the race to former Gov. Jerry Brown.
Move on to the number of initiatives on the ballot in our state, and you’ll find the spending tops $60 million. There must be some real profit in the private sale of hard liquor or not having to pay a sales tax on soda and candy you get at the grocery store.
If the un-godly amount of money wasn’t bad enough, many — OK, maybe most — of the races were predominantly nasty. About the only charge we didn’t see leveled was that someone’s opponent was a serial killer. Of course, it could be that the candidates didn’t look hard enough.
Whether or not all this cash translates into the best government is problematical. Whoever wins the races around the country will know that the day after the election they have to be out raising money for the next go-round. As they say, there’s no rest for the weary.
