Special Interests

Camaign Resources

Some of the most visible and widely discussed interest group actions in campaigns involve providing campaign resources to candidates or parties. The most controversial of those resources is money. Since World War II, interest-group funding of campaigns has risen dramatically, although some of the apparent increase is due to improved reporting requirements. However, much of the conventional reporting of interest group funding emphasizes contributions from political action committees (PACs), the vast majority of which are affiliated with interest groups. Unfortunately, those numbers understate the amount of interest-group money in campaigns.

First, a group may encourage its members to contribute as individuals. If the members include a letter with their donation or identify their professions and employers on the contribution forms, the recipients will know that some donors are autoworkers, realtors, chiropractors, or bankers.

Second, a group may sponsor a fundraising reception or dinner in order to help a candidate raise money. A smaller group may sponsor one or more tables at a large reception. Much of the money raised in that fashion will be officially classified as being from individuals, but the candidate or party receiving the money will know of the group's involvement. Third, one or more group members may collect contributions from colleagues in the group and then pass the contributions along to the preferred candidate or party.

Groups desiring more direct policy impact may provide funding for initiative, referendum, and recall campaigns. A group may help to finance signature gathering for initiative or recall campaigns (where state laws permit the use of paid signature-gatherers).

If the proposal qualifies for a public vote, interest-group contributions may help to finance advertisements and other expenses of the referendum or recall campaigns. In some cases, the group may set up an organization with a somewhat misleading name (“Citizens for Insurance Reform” when the group is actually from the insurance industry) if that name maybe politically beneficial.

Groups with large numbers of members, especially highly-motivated ones, may provide volunteer workers to assist with a campaign. Many campaigns suffer from a severe shortage of volunteers, who can perform all sorts of tasks, including campaigning door-to-door, staffing telephone banks, and prepare literature for mailing. Organized labor has traditionally been a significant source of campaign volunteers, but many other groups also provide some campaign helpers.

Some groups also provide in-kind resources for campaigns, although that practice appears to be less common than giving money. A group may provide polling data to help a candidate develop a clearer picture of public sentiments, including the public's views of other candidates and preferences on major issues. A group may provide transportation to assist a candidate's travels around the state or country. Some groups also provide research support: an analysis of one or more policy proposals or the public record of a political rival may be a great help to a candidate.

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