Why Campaign Finance Reform Is Hard

When the public doesn't know what super PACs have been doing this election cycle, it's hard to push for change.

by

From a new Washington Post-Pew poll:

So, 65 percent have heard little or nothing about campaign spending by outside groups, 75 percent think the effect of this spending will be neutral or have no opinion about its effect, 69 percent do not think it will help one candidate more than the other or have no opinion about this, and 60 percent cannot identify what a super PAC is.

These sorts of findings are one reason why, despite Americans' distaste for money in politics, the public rarely provides much impetus for campaign finance reform.

The American Prospect is fiercely independent and reader-funded. Your support directly funds our team of investigative reporters, fact-checkers, and editors who produce in-depth journalism that holds the powerful accountable.

If you believe in reporting that informs, challenges, and inspires, there are two key ways to support us:

• Donate to keep our nonprofit newsroom strong and fearless
• Subscribe to our award-winning print magazine and receive our hard-hitting reporting and analysis in your mailbox 6 times a year

Your support makes our journalism possible. Thank you for standing with us.