Republicans Court Rich Candidates

Attention wealthy people interested in politics: the Republican party wants you.

As the New York Times noted today, the party that wants people to pull themselves with their own bootstraps expects the same of people running for Congress. It has little choice since The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has raised $56 million with $29.2 million at its disposal compared with the $40.7 million raised by the National Republican Congressional Committee, which as a cash balance of $2.5 million, the paper said.

While having self-funded candidates seems like a dream come true for the GOP, there is a downside. People who pay for their own campaigns will understandably want to call their own shots, making it tougher for the party to convince them to toe the line. Plus, these self-made businessman might not always make the best campaigners because they are not used to the rough and tumble world of politics. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is the exception rather than the rule.

Running for political office also is a lousy investment. Texas businessman Francisco Canseco has already sunk $700,00 in his own campaign for a job that only pays $165,000. Mind you, Canseco probably doesn't need the money y. People who don't need the money of political office may have a more difficult time in understanding the needs of most Americans who do need a paycheck.