Howard Dean recently became the first Democratic presidentialcandidate to back out of the federal public-funding system in hopeshis move will reform campaign finance.
Dean's choice, however, is old news to President Bush, who didthe same during his campaign in 2000 and will again in 2004.Because Bush's funds are expected to approach $200 million, some ofDean's detractors say he's opting out to lift the government-basedfinancial restrictions off his own campaign.
But Dean said, according to qctimes.com, Bush procured much ofhis campaign finances from wealthy corporations. The twopolitician's similar moves differ because Dean will instead seekfunds from the general public. He's asking 2 million of hissupporters to donate $100 to his campaign.
"In some ways, our campaign is campaign-finance reform," hesaid. "It's just the way it's supposed to work -- ordinary peopletaking their government back.''
Still, some politicans are wary of Dean's move. Because hesupported the government-sponsored financial program just lastspring, he's been accused of self-indulgence and wavering on thereform issue.
Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie, in a letterto Dean, accused him of taking money from corporations and interestgroups -- just like Bush does.
Still, if it is sincere, Dean's move is a step in the rightdirection for campaign-finance reform. Dean's supporters think hisgrass roots efforts will spark major changes in the futurecampaigns.
This move is more than politics as usual. Dean seems to begenerally concerned with reforming campaign finance. He isfollowing Bush out of the federal public-funding system, but he islooking for an alternative to Bush's fund-raising methods.
In this case, the one who thinks outside the box will be the onewho change its shape.
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