Political party fund raising for the 1996 election climbed to a record $900 million amid an explosion of "soft money," the unlimited donations at the center of a variety of fund-raising investigations.
Together the parties collected $262.1 million in soft money from corporations, unions and wealthy patrons - three times the total for the 1992 election cycle. Money given to a political party is considered "soft money" and is unlimited, while "hard money," which is given directly to a candidate, is restricted by law.The Federal Election Commission outlined the financial trends Wednesday in a report totaling national party fund raising from Jan. 1, 1995, through Dec. 31, 1996. It included money raised by the parties' congressional fund-raising arms and by state committees that raise money for federal races.
Overall, the Republican Party outraised the Democrats, $554.7 million to $345.5 million. Yet it's the Democratic Party that faces the most questions about improper fund raising, including the use of the White House to reward big-money donors and contributions connected to foreign sources.
The FEC said the Republican Party's take included $138.2 million in soft money, more than 21/2 times the previous presidential election cycle, when Republicans raised $49.8 million in soft money.
Democrats hauled in $123.9 million in soft money, more than three times the $36.3 million it raised in 1991-92, the FEC said.
The 1991-92 season was the first time parties were required to report soft-money contributions, which are used to pay for get-out-the-vote drives, issues advertising and administrative costs. Much of this money is passed along to state committees. It cannot be spent to influence a federal election.