WASHINGTON -- While their likely presidential nominees advocate campaign finance reform, the political parties are eagerly courting individuals, corporations and unions willing to contribute $250,000 or more.
The Republican National Committee already reports 51 contributions of at least $250,000 in the 1999-2000 election season, twice as many as during the 1995-96 political campaign. Figures for the Democrats are incomplete because of a different reporting system, but their top donor category is the same.The contributions are legal and involve unregulated money -- known as soft money -- that cannot be used directly for candidates in federal elections. Such money is increasingly used, however, for "issue ads" that support the parties' nominees.
"There was greater incidence of $100,000 donors four years ago," said Herbert Alexander, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Southern California. "Now $250,000 seems to be the standard."
Both parties court top-dollar donors, offering special opportunities to meet politicians and obtain other benefits.
"Every record in the book, if it hasn't already been broken, will be broken before November," said Larry Makinson, director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan research group that studies money and campaigns. "So much is at stake. There is not a corner of the economy that's not going to be affected by the new regime, whoever that regime may be."
Both likely nominees -- Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore -- are pressing for a crackdown of sorts on the unlimited soft money donations to parties.
Vice President Gore wants an outright ban; Texas Gov. Bush says individuals but not corporations or unions should be able to write unlimited checks.
"It's like giving to the church," veteran Republican fund-raiser Ted Welch said. "A lot of people have a tremendous amount of money, and they're willing to give part of it for what they think will be in the best interests of the long-term well-being of this country."
The Democratic National Committee also is receiving big checks this year.