John Edwards, who is relying on federal money to help fund his presidential campaign, may not get any more. The list of lobbyists raising cash for the candidates, and how much they have brought in, remains hidden.
The Federal Election Commission doesn't have enough members to oversee what is expected to be the most expensive election in US history. Down to just two of its six commissioners, the FEC can't assemble the quorum of four votes required to approve federal campaign funds, enact regulations, undertake fraud investigations, or provide legal advice to candidates.
The reason: Senate Democrats have refused to confirm former Justice Department official Hans von Spakovsky to a seat on the FEC, and, in response, Senate Republicans won't let through President Bush's three other nominees.
"There are decisions that need to be made; now there is no one to make them," said Gary Kalman, a lobbyist with the Boston-based Public Interest Research Group, which favors stronger campaign finance laws.
So far, Edwards is the only top-tier presidential candidate to agree to limit campaign spending to $50 million in exchange for partial federal funding. The FEC can't approve any more money for Edwards beyond the $8.8 million it certified in December. The government has yet to disburse Edwards's money, though he can borrow against the promise of getting federal funds.
"We fully expect the FEC to meet their obligations under the public-financing system," Edwards spokesman Eric Schultz said.
BLOOMBERG
For Clinton campaign, it's about the economy
After days spent bashing Barack Obama's record on Iraq and fending off charges of racial insensitivity, Hillary Clinton's campaign has apparently decided, at least for now, that it would much rather talk about the economy.
The campaign released two memos yesterday about Clinton's plans to bolster the flailing economy and avoid recession, with a variety of funds for emergency housing, energy assistance, and unemployment insurance.
She also joined an unusual conference call with reporters - and with Michigan's Governor Jennifer Granholm and New Jersey's Governor Jon Corzine - to hammer in her economic stimulus proposals, which she unveiled last week.
Prompted by a reporter's question, Clinton took the opportunity to suggest that Obama wouldn't know how to handle a recession.
Referring to Obama's recent comments that he would be a visionary, not an "operating officer," Clinton said, "I believe strongly that the president has to run the government and manage the economy. I don't think you can have a hands-off approach to the presidency of the United States at any time, particularly after the presidency of George W. Bush, who adopted that philosophy, and told us often he'd be the big- picture person and leave it to his advisers to make all the tough decisions."
MARCELLA BOMBARDIERI
Obama eyes new approach on drug crimes, abuse
HENDERSON, Nev. - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said he would bring a new approach to drug crimes in response to a questioner who noted, "If you were arrested when you were a teenager, then you never would be a candidate for the presidency."
Obama didn't comment on the reference to his teenage use of marijuana and cocaine, which he disclosed in his autobiography and which some of rival Hillary Clinton's supporters have raised. Instead, he said the government is not handling the drug problem "in an intelligent way."
"I'm not interested in legalizing drugs," Obama said. "But what I am interested in is putting more of an emphasis on the public health approach to drugs and less on the incarceration approach to drugs."
He said there should be more programs to keep young people from using drugs. And he said first-time offenders should be given help to overcome their drug use instead of being locked up at taxpayer expense.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
