Take it to the limitMaximizing fundraising potential

I sometimes mix up political fundraising limits because they vary at certain levels. So from time to time, I need to refresh my memory at the Secretary of State's website. So without further ado, straight from the SOS:

• No individual may contribute more that $1,000 to or in behalf of any candidate for statewide office in any calendar year. (SDCL 12-25-1.1)
• No individual may contribute more than $250 to or in behalf of any candidate for legislative or county office in any calendar year. (SDCL 12-25-1.1)
• No individual may contribute more than $3,000 to or in behalf of any political party in any calendar year. (SDCL 12-25-1.2)
• There is no limit on the amount an individual may contribute to a political action or ballot question committee.
• Voluntary work for or on behalf of any candidate is expressly permitted. (SDCL 12-25-12).

Now, the key is the little phrase "in any calendar year." We're just hitting the fall in the year before an election year, and I'm actually a little suprised that we're not starting to get pounded by fundraising letters by now.

There's only three and a half months left in this calendar year for campaigns to scoop up money. If I was running a statewide or legislative race, I'd be out there making a major push on my best donors trying to get them to get a donation in now, so they can be hit again after January 1. In the realm of legislative races, the $250 limit is really not that high. If someone is considering running a challenger race, and lives in an area with good donors, the time to start raising money is now.

It gets a little confusing, because on a federal level, if memory serves me, the limits on campaign finance are based on the election cycle - first the primary election, and then the general.

But not at the state level or lower. It's calendar year

Now, these same limits don't apply to your mom, and a few others. Again, from the Secretary of State:

Contributions by a Family Member:

There is no limit on the amount the candidate's spouse, any relative within the third degree of kinship of the candidate or spouse, or the spouse of such relative may contribute to a candidate (SDCL 12-25-1.1). Third degree of kinship includes parent, child, grandparent, brother, sister, grandchild, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, great grandparent and great grandchild.

Contributions from Candidate's Personal Funds:

There is no limit to the amount a candidate may spend from personal funds (SDCL 12-25-1.1). The amount spent should be reported on line 4 of the Summary Page of the reporting form.

For those of us who are personally wealthy, it's no problem, just dip into your trust fund and spend away. Although, when you do that, it robs you of the opportunity to build supporters.

I was working with a candidate once who flat out asked me if I thought he should just pay for his $20,000 race out of pocket, and I told him no. I thought he should go raise the money first because if you can get someone's donation, you'll likely get their vote too. And that's more important than the cash.

.... I notice it's getting time to hit the showers, but there's still some good points to be made on fundraising. I'll continue this tonight or tomorrow with some good stuff on PAC's.