While the latest Economist/YouGov Poll shows a public still in favor of limits on campaign donations, there is little support for evening the playing field by providing public financing of political campaigns.
The public would like to limit campaign donations, but there is less support for putting restrictions on unions, corporations, foreign corporations and special interests than there was earlier this year. At the end of January, a majority supported restrictions on each of those groups; now support is in the 40’s.
Do you favor or oppose limiting the amount of money the following groups can spend in support of a political campaign?
| Individuals | Labor Unions | Corporations | Foreign corporations | Special interest groups | Candidates spending their own money on their own campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Strongly favor | 20% | 27% | 31% | 37% | 29% | 25% |
Favor | 22% | 18% | 15% | 10% | 16% | 18% |
Neither favor, nor oppose | 39% | 30% | 30% | 26% | 31% | 35% |
Oppose | 10% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 12% | 10% |
Strongly oppose | 10% | 15% | 14% | 18% | 13% | 12% |
Many partisans would even limit contributions from groups that tend to favor their candidates. 51% of Republicans would restrict the amount labor unions can contribute to campaigns, but so would 41% of Democrats. 46% of Democrats would limit contributions from corporations, and so would 45% of Republicans.
However, there is little support for public financing of campaigns. Just 20% favor that, not much different from earlier this year. But here the parties differ. Most Republicans oppose public financing; Democrats are divided, 24% to 27%.
