Election ’08: Financing of campaigns is askew

The Clarion-Ledger Editorial, 10/21/8

In the presidential campaign, Democrat Barack Obama is outspending Republican John McCain better than 2-to1 and, in Mississippi, the ads in the special U.S. Senate race between Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove have reached the level of the absurd.

What do they have in common? Both are examples of campaign spending out of control.

Nationally, the Obama campaign has announced it raised $150 million in September alone. McCain, taking public financing, is limited to spending $84.1 million between the convention and Nov. 4.

Why should playing by the rules to provide a level playing field by accepting public financing be a detriment? Shouldn’t both camps be equal?