Run for US presidency costs candidate €900m

Free speech is not cheap. “No dough, no go for presidential hopefuls” (Irish Examiner, August 4) relates the huge amount of money already compiled by US presidential candidates — and the voting doesn’t start for another six months.

The political world has changed since 1960, when John F Kennedy ran a high-priced campaign of $10m. This compares to the two main candidates in 2012, who each raised $900m just for the post-Convention phase of the campaign.

In 1960, there were three major national television networks, and there was no internet. Now, candidates have to produce efforts on broadcast, cable, satellite and internet channels; and, create a viable social media presence.

All the basic components of a campaign are an ever-increasing cost factor. If voters do not see and hear a candidate making a national effort from the start, that person is not seen as credible.

Money talks. Without it, a candidate does not.

Dan Donovan

Dungarvan

Co Waterford