If you wonder why third parties have a difficult time winning their candidates into federal office, please take a look at these recent findings from Political Moneyline. All concern the current two-year election cycle 2005-2006.

An eighteen-month tally of nationally oriented Section 527 organizations shows that they have raised $118 million. Those organizations gave more than $61.2 million to Democrat-oriented groups and $56.4 million to Republican-oriented groups.

For national party finances the Democrats have raised $ 289.3 million and the Republicans have raised $405.7 million in the first eighteen months of the 2005-2006 cycle.

Jared Kushner, the new owner of the New York Observer weekly newspaper, has been a regular political donor in federal politics. His donations have been to Democratic party committees and candidates.

In all House and Senate campaigns, PAC contributions totaled $232 million or 26%; PAC contributions increased by 23% over the previous election cycle.

Members of Congress transferred $23 million in excess funds to the Democratic Congressional Committee ($15 million) and the National Republican Congressional Committee ($8 million).

Bloomberg News reported that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced they would spend at least $10 million on advertisements this fall for issues and voter registration. Ads will begin today in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Ohio, and elsewhere, to thank Members of Congress for supporting a prescription drug benefit. Other efforts in the fall will focus on voter registration, especially in the districts of thirty pro-business Members of Congress.

How in the world can the Libertarian, Green, Reform and Constitution Parties possibly break into competitive Congressional races, when they are immediately brushed up against this moneyed system??

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