The Permanent Campaign

When does the next campaign start? The day after the election. This FoxNews article looks at the pros and cons of constantly campaigning, even once a seat is secured.

One thing this article did not consider is the effect of campaign finance laws on the election cycle. Since the 70s, regulations have allowed less large donations and outlawed "soft money." These rules, along with the need to reach voters through television, have made candidates start fundraising as early as possible. Notice that many potential presidential candidates for 2008 have already started to fill their coffers. Since money is the fuel for campaigns, the need for it drives candidates to start earlier.