The high cost of free (and televised) elections
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As the USA Today Tennessee Network reported last week, this is officially the most expensive election in Tennessee history.
The four candidates for the Republican nomination for governor have raised and spent almost $40 million. That includes major funding from their own pockets to the tune of about $33 million. In the last few days before the election, we can expect them to go “all in.”
They are spending the money in an effort to persuade you, the voter, to vote for them. Money is no longer the limiting factor, time is. With only a few days to go, there is only so much a candidate can do and only so many ways they can spend their money.
For instance, I am told, there is no more airtime available for purchase on Fox News, the preeminent network of Republican primary voters. When you watch the nightly news, all you see are ads for candidates and ads for cars. From the ads you learn which car is more conservative and which candidate gets more miles to the gallon, or maybe it’s the other way around.
Assuming that about 15 percent of the $40 million raised in the Republican primary for governor is being spent in Shelby County (which will produce about 15 percent of the Republican primary vote), that adds up to about $6 million in local spending to date. That is $6 million trying to get your vote.
Given that we also have races for U.S. Senate and Congress, state house and state senate, county commission and other county positions, and one city council spot, there is a lot of local money being spent on persuading the voters.
For instance, the candidates for county mayor — Lee Harris and David Lenoir will spend about $500,000 each. Candidates for county commission or judge have even smaller budgets and generally cannot afford television, but a few have raised enough to run some ads.
In every election, there are those high-minded individuals who complain about the high cost of campaigning and the enormous expenditures made on political advertising. Instead, I think it is evidence of the strength of our democratic system, not a sign of weakness.
Given that the amount of advertising for candidates is roughly equal to the amount of advertising for new cars, I am not dismayed. It is heartening to think that we spend as much on educating ourselves about those who would be our elected leaders as we do on how we will get around on the streets.
It is a hallmark of freedom. Ours is a system that depends on persuasion, not force. All the money is given voluntarily. No one is required to watch the advertising. In fact, no one is even required to vote.
The candidates make their case to you, the voter. You listen, make up your mind, and then exercise the supreme power of self-government: You choose.
On Aug. 2, you will have the chance to exercise the supreme power of selfgovernment by casting your vote. Then brace yourself for the next election Nov. 6, and the next onslaught of persuasion that will come with it.
John Ryder is a Memphis attorney, with Harris Shelton, who serves as Chairman of the Republican National Lawyers Association. He served as General Counsel to the Republican National Committee. He can be reached at ryderontheriver@gmail.com.
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