Want to Chat with Clark? Show Him the Money
By Charles Mahaleris
Talon News
November 5, 2003

Reporters and watchdog groups have for years lamented the behind-the-scenes connection between campaign contributions and access to politicians and candidates. Presidential candidate Wesley Clark's campaign is not hiding the connection and is urging donors to pony up.

Clark staffers sent out an e-mail to supporters on Tuesday asking them to send in their donations and they may win a chance to speak with retired General Wesley Clark.

The letter reads, "Dear Friend, Do you want to meet with General Wesley Clark in your community? Get started today by making a contribution to Clark for President through the Clark04 ZIP (code) Drive! Then, recruit and challenge more supporters in your community to match your pledge of support for Wes Clark. The ZIP code that generates the largest number of online donors to Clark04 will earn huge bragging rights AND a visit from Wes Clark during the upcoming primary season!"

The campaign is compiling a list of all donors who send in $10 or more between now and Thanksgiving.

According to the e-mail, "The ZIP code that has generated the most online contributors by 11:59 pm PST on November 24th wins the ZIP Drive! General Clark will visit the winning ZIP code for a 'Conversation with Clark,' as his campaign schedule permits. Each contributor from the winning ZIP code who gives online between November 3rd and November 24th will be invited to a special reception where they will have a chance to meet Wes Clark personally!"

Watchdog groups such as Common Cause and Public Citizen have been critical of the linkage between politicians and campaign money.

"Public policy should not be dictated by the highest bidders," Joan Claybrook of Public Citizen said last month. "That's why we need to overhaul the presidential public financing system so that politicians listen to average citizens instead of paying back their biggest contributors."

Clark made a splash among his Democrat rivals by outpacing their campaigns' early fundraising efforts. Clark raised nearly $3.5 million from 20,000 donors in the first two weeks after he entered the race. The average gift was over $170 per donor.

Clark was so proud of that accomplishment that his campaign even released details comparing his fundraising victories over those of his rivals.

"General Clark's first two weeks of fundraising far outpaced the early fundraising efforts of every other Democratic candidate. General Clark averaged nearly $250,000 a day in contributions. By contrast, in the first quarter they declared their bids for the White House: Howard Dean took in approximately $446 a day ($37,450 raised that quarter). John Kerry took in $5,975 a day ($501,898 raised that quarter)," the Clark campaign said.