Retired naval officer Joe Sestak out-raised incumbent Republican Curt Weldon to seize a House seat in suburban Philadelphia — aided by nearly $900,000 in Internet contributions.
This year’s midterm elections offered fresh examples of the ways the Internet is changing how candidates in both parties raise money as they scramble to collect the $20, $30 and $50 donations needed in the aftermath of changes to campaign-finance laws in 2002 that banned large donations. Online fundraising has proved a cost-effective and lightning-fast method to raise cash, rally the faithful and promote or smear office seekers.
It also could transform fundraising in presidential races. “It’s inevitable that the Internet will become the principal means of fundraising from now on,” said Anthony Corrado, a campaign-finance expert at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. “It’s the only way you get a million people to each give you $10 on the same day.”
It’s hard to quantify Internet contributions in campaigns because candidates and political parties are not required to disclose which donations came via the Web, but online activity played a role in several closely watched races this year.
Photo by olivander.
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