The Cost To Become A President

How Much Does It Cost TO BECOME PRESIDENT? Raised: $745 million Raised: $368 million Barack Obama John McCain Spent: $730 million Spent: $333 million To Win To Lose SPENDING DURING THE MOST RECENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Raised: $258,000 Raised: $199,000 Raised: $1 million Raised $4 million Spent: $208,000 Spent: $145,000 Spent: $1 million Spent: $4 million Chuck Baldwin (Constitution Party) Catherine McKinney (Green Party) Bob Barr (Libertarian Party) Ralph Nader (Independent Party) In nearly every modern election, the candidate with the most money wins both his or her respective primary and the general election. 2012 FUNDRAISING (as of Jan. 31) Obama: $136.8 million Romney: $62.7 million Paul: $30.8 million Perry: $20 million Gingrich: $18 million Santorum: $6.6 million Huntsman: $6.3 million HISTORY OF PRESIDENTIAL SPENDING $1.7 billion $880 million $528 million $425 million $324 million $331 million $161 million $202 million 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 Americans who don't think there's too much $300,000 26% Don't know 70% cost to produce 30-second TV ad Americans who think there's too much money in presidential campaigns 57% of Americans think politicians should be limited in what they can spend on campaigning 38% believe candidates should spend whatever is raised VOTER TURNOUT 55.4% 56.9% 50% The United States has some of the lowest voter turnout rates in the democratic industrialized world. 2000 2004 2008 Sources: Brought to you by: GoBankingRates.com www.opensecrets.org www.usatoday.com www.elections.gmu.edu www.thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com