Some predict 2020 will be the first presidential election where $10bn could be spent on political advertising – almost 60% more than the money-soaked 2016 election. Campaign financing has changed so dramatically since the landmark Citizens United v Federal Election Commission (FEC) ruling handed down by the supreme court exactly 10 years ago that the former president Jimmy Carter called it legalized bribery. And it’s a key reason why the 2020 presidential election is expected to see another eye-popping increase in political spending. “It’s effectively taken control of the message away from candidates and put it in to the hands of outside groups. I think we can say without any reservation that Citizens United has been a train wreck for representative democracy Steve Bullock“On the 10th anniversary I think we can say without any reservation that Citizens United has been a train wreck for representative democracy,” Bullock said.

Source: The Guardian January 21, 2020 07:18 UTC