Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) entire campaign can be boiled down to three words, “millionaires and billionaires.” The very rich are the antagonists in the Sanders stump speeches, where he portrays them as the “one percent” who are buying elections through political donations and Super PACS — all because of the Citizens United decision.
Well, former Florida Gov. Jeb! Bush’s failed bid for the Republican nomination just proved Sanders wrong.
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The Washington Post calculated the totals each campaign spent per vote, and the campaigns that spent the most money got some of the fewest vote totals.
Ben Carson and Bush spent the most, by far. Carson spent $795 for each of his 76,000 votes or about $60.4 million total, while Bush paid $368 for his 92,000 votes or about $33.9 million total.
That does not include the $100 million that Right to Rise, Bush’s Super PAC, spent. If that were equated Bush actually spent about $1,455 per vote.
The campaign that spent the least per vote actually won the most delegates so far. Donald Trump spent only $64 per vote for his 374,000 votes or nearly $24 million total. Ohio Gov. John Kasich came in a close second for fewest dollars spent per vote, $72 for his 101,000 votes or an estimated $7.3 million total.
Sorry Bernie, you can have dozens of millionaires and billionaires supporting a candidate, but elections are still decided by a winning message and enthusiastic grassroots support.
