The chart on the right (courtesy of The New York Daily News) illustrates the rising cost of running for president. As for the next election:
"The 2008 race will be the longest and most expensive election in American history," warned Federal Election Commissioner Michael Toner. "We’re heading into the first $1 billion election."
Things have gotten so out of hand that Toner estimated a prospective candidate needs to raise $100 million by the end of this year just to be "taken seriously."
"Call it a $100 million entry fee," he said.
And we’re told campaign reform isn’t a big deal. Why aren’t Americans more concerned about the selling of their democracy?
