Facebook Twitter Tumblr Close Skip to main content
A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

McCain and Public Financing

Q: Did John McCain borrow money using public financing as collateral?
A: Lawyers for McCain and Fidelity & Trust Bank say he did not. The DNC says he did and should not have been allowed to withdraw from public financing during the primaries. The Federal Election Commission may have the final word.

Robocall Rules

Q: What are the rules on robo-calls?
A: Federal law requires that groups making automated calls identify themselves at the beginning of the call and provide a call-back number. The FEC says that a disclaimer must accompany public communication made by political committees or individuals. However, specific regulations for political robo-calls vary from state to state.

What is Public Financing?

Q: What is public financing?

A: It’s the system under which candidates can use U.S. Treasury dollars to fund their campaigns. But only if they agree to play by a complicated set of rules.

Leftover Campaign Funds

Q: What happens to a candidate’s leftover campaign funds when he or she drops out of the race?
A: The big rule is: no personal use.
FULL QUESTION
Do candidates for elected office keep donations to their campaigns for personal use after they lose or drop out? Or do those donations have to go into a greater party fund?
FULL ANSWER
As Bob Biersack from the Federal Election Commission points out,