$$$ Money, Money, Money $$$

I tell ya, these days, you can’t do much without money. Why, just to get to class with my printed assignments and coffee, I’ve already had to pay for the gas in my car, ink for my printer, and coffee at Starbucks. But though I may complain about the overpriced Americanos that fuel my caffeine addiction, it is nothing in comparison to the massive sums of money pumped into political campaigns.

            So this week, I’ve decided to take a look at our candidate’s finances. With less than a month to go before Election Day, it is time for both Democrat Shea-Porter and Republican Guinta to put all the money they have into advertisements and rallies to persuade voters. Studies have suggested that the last two weeks of a campaign are when the majority of voters actually pay attention, so we are certainly nearing the critical stage of New Hampshire’s District One Race. I’ve turned to the New York Time’s coverage of the race to take a look at the expenses so far.

            Shea-Porter has raised at least $960,150 as of August, and has probably eclipsed the million dollar mark since then. With Election Projection still predicting a Guinta victory as Election Day draws near, Shea-Porter is going to have to spend her money on defending her previous achievements and decisions in Congress. She certainly has enough cash on hand to do so, but unless she uses this money to take her campaign to the next level, she may lose her seat.

            On the other hand, Guinta doesn’t have to defend any of his previous actions, rather he only needs to focus his money and advertising into taking down Shea-Porter. So far, Guinta has raised about $700,000, but has spent more than a million, leaving him with much less cash on hand than Shea-Porter. Guinta needs to watch his spending if he’s going to survive the marathon and not just the sprint. If he is smart about his spending and continues to successfully fundraise – as well as maintaining his aggressive campaign – Guinta may win.

            Certainly, in these last few weeks, the spending is bound to increase tenfold as both candidates will bombard the District with flyers, tv and radio ads, and rallies. And though money can’t buy you an election, it certainly comes close to doing so. So come back next week, as we’re going to take a closer look at Carol and Frank’s policy positions, and how those line up with the constituents of New Hampshire District 1. Until then, keep your eyes on the race, and keep out of the rain!