I am amazed at this turn of events: huge donations (in aggregate) pouring into presidential candidate coffers (well, some of them)—that is, huge compared to previous primaries/elections. So, is there any significant influence on this from “American Idol” (and myriad opportunities to vote for this or that on the web)? Have some people got the voting bug from popular culture? Is it too much of a stretch to think they have gained the urge to vote and the urge to donate to their favored candidate all at once?
Will people follow their cash to the voting booth? Or are the donors overwhelmingly people who voted in the last presidential election?
And, of most import, perhaps, to the candidates and their handlers, will this level of giving continue? Can they burn through this cash assuming gobs more are coming their way?