Much like running a corporation, running for president is an expensive and time-consuming undertaking. Just like a corporation, a campaign involves employees, money management, public relations, advertising and the selling of a product or service. Which in this case is the person running for office. In this graphic, we take a look at just what all it takes to run for president, and how big of a business doing so has become.
Like all businesses, you have better success in some states than others. Below is a look at how effective each candidate has been state by state in fundraising.
One can get a pretty good idea of whose backing a candidate, and who the candidate is courting by how much the average contribution is to their campaign. In this section we break down the average size of campaign contributions to each candidate.
On top of the candidates' campaigns, money is also raised and spent by the national committees and super PACs. Combined, they have enough financial influence to drastically alter the political landscape without any involvement or say from the candidate themselves.
With budgets bordering a mega-corporation, it's no surprise that presidential campaigns spend their haul in as many places with the most impact as possible. Below is a look at just where all that "hard earned" money ends up.
If looking at these huge sums of cash being spent to become president got you wondering if something is out of whack, you would be correct. President Lincoln spent a total of $2.8 million adjusted for today to become president. Below is a look at just how out of hand election spending has become.
- 1896: McKinley vs. Bryan set a record for most expensive race that stood for over 60 years.