Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Comparing the Cost Per Vote When Running for Governor
The Association Press reports that multi-millionaire Ron Gidwitz raised about $12.5 million to win about 76,000 votes.
That number rang a bell.
I received 73,794 votes when I ran for governor as a Libertarian. Of course, that was puny compared to the power party candidates’ totals, but our campaign cost “only” $211,648.89. That’s just a bit more than we know the District 300 tax hikers spent.
It works out to $2.87 per vote.
Gidwitz spent $163 for each of his approximately 76,000 votes, AP figures. He did get a higher percentage than I did. His was 11%; mine was 2%.
in 2006, Gidwitz spent 56.7 times more for each vote than the 2002 campaign did.
For real economy in getting votes, however, take a look at what happened in 1978 when bullet voting was still allowed. It was called proportional representation--common in Eurpoe, but rare in the USA. Each voter got three votes to split as they wished among the candidates running for three seats in a district. (Pat Quinn's "Cut Back" amendment to the Illinois Constitution killed it, thus ensuring that the Illinois House would look and act like the Illinois Senate, that is, both bodies would represent local establishments.)
In any event, here are the votes from 1978, when yours truly got the second most votes of any state representative in Illinois:
I spent $3,618.90 or 5 cents a vote. Most probably went for printing literature for the precinct committeemen.
Of course, with three to be elected, I was essentially running unopposed.
That number rang a bell.
I received 73,794 votes when I ran for governor as a Libertarian. Of course, that was puny compared to the power party candidates’ totals, but our campaign cost “only” $211,648.89. That’s just a bit more than we know the District 300 tax hikers spent.
It works out to $2.87 per vote.
Gidwitz spent $163 for each of his approximately 76,000 votes, AP figures. He did get a higher percentage than I did. His was 11%; mine was 2%.
in 2006, Gidwitz spent 56.7 times more for each vote than the 2002 campaign did.
For real economy in getting votes, however, take a look at what happened in 1978 when bullet voting was still allowed. It was called proportional representation--common in Eurpoe, but rare in the USA. Each voter got three votes to split as they wished among the candidates running for three seats in a district. (Pat Quinn's "Cut Back" amendment to the Illinois Constitution killed it, thus ensuring that the Illinois House would look and act like the Illinois Senate, that is, both bodies would represent local establishments.)
In any event, here are the votes from 1978, when yours truly got the second most votes of any state representative in Illinois:
(R) Cal Skinner: 72,697.5 Total voteAt least I got more votes running for Governor, although not many more.
(R) R. Bruce Waddell: 47,736.0 Total vote
(D) Thomas J. Hanahan: 42,412.5 Total vote
I spent $3,618.90 or 5 cents a vote. Most probably went for printing literature for the precinct committeemen.
Of course, with three to be elected, I was essentially running unopposed.
