Clark may forfeit matching funds

The Wall Street Journal reports that Clark is joining Kerry and Dean in probably forfeiting public matching funds. This will only accelerate the trend for the rest of the candidates to do likewise.

Good.

Bush will have about $200 million (if not more) to throw against us. So why effectively disarm with a piddly $45 million until the convention? That would mean that in March, after we have an unofficial nominee, he would be unable to keep fundraising and would stay broke until the convention, when the feds would kick in for the general (for both parties).

The matching funds also crimp candidate strategies. In order to accept the matching funds, candidates need to adhere to strict state-by-state spending limits to qualify for those funds. Gephardt will likely exceed those limits in Iowa as he throws everything he's got to try and win the state. Same with Kerry in NH. Edwards may need to do so in SC.

Public matching funds are a good idea, but not a viable one unless every candidate is forced to abide by the limits. If Bush was limited to $45 million up to the GOoPer convention, that would be one thing. But he's not. Our candidates cannot and should not disarm.

(Via Political Wire. The WSJ story itself is subscribers only.)