Sanders' Money Would Double If Campaign Finance Were Reformed

"Bernie Sanders raised 64 percent of his contributions from small donors giving US$200 or less compared to Hillary Clinton’s 19 percent through December, but was outraised by nearly US$40 million," the report by U.S. PIRG, a federation of the state-level activist groups founded by Ralph Nader in the 1970s, details.

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Small donor matching funds program exist throughout the world, even New York state has such a program, which matches small contributions from residents of New York city at a US$6-to-US$1 rate. "Candidates who join the voluntary program can receive up to US$1,050 in public funds per eligible contributor,” according to the New York City Campaign Finance Board’s website.

“Under a small donor matching system, Sanders would take a commanding lead over Clinton in fundraising, bringing in US$413 million next to Clinton’s $US239 million,” the U.S. PIRG report continues.

That’s a difference of more than US$170 million.

The report excoriates the campaign finance system, calling out "Bush, Christie, Kasich, and Clinton" who have all have filled more than half of their campaign coffers with donations above $200.

U.S. PIRG is in favor of instituting a federal small donor matching funds program to create a "people-powered campaign finance system."

One of Sanders' main convictions has been campaign finance reform. The Vermont senator refuses to take donations from corporations, saying that removing big money from politics is essential for restoring democracy.

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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that nonprofit corporations could donate as much money as they wanted to any campaign in the 2010 Citizens United case. Any limit on donations would be an infringement of freedom of expression.

In order to use this loophole, candidates set up "Super" political action committees or Super P.A.C., which can receive donations of any amount from any for-profit corporation.

However, a small donor matching funds program would erase the effect of Super P.A.C.s, the report says.

The report comes the same day as the announcement that California's International Longshore and Warehouse Union endorsed Sanders for president.

“Bernie Sanders is the best candidate for America’s working families,” said ILWU International President Robert McEllrath. “Bernie is best on the issues that matter most to American workers: better trade agreements, support for unions, fair wages, tuition for students and public colleges, Medicare for all, fighting a corrupt campaign finance system and confronting the power of Wall Street that’s making life harder for most Americans.”

The ILWU had over 33,000 members in 2014.