The most costly off-year election in U.S. history

Some $3.67 billion was spent on the 2014 U.S. election campaigns up until 60 days before the election.  When the final figures are in, it will be more than $4 billion—making 2014 the most expensive mid-term election year in history.

Political scientist Thomas Ferguson, an expert on money in politics, explained the significance of that fact in an interview for the Real News Network.  My takeaways from the interview:

• The big money went predominantly to the Republicans, but Democrats got a lot, too.
• Republicans benefited from the low voter turnout, which was the lowest in many years.  They won with the support of probably 18 to 20 percent of American voters.
• The low turnout reflected disillusionment with both parties, but also, to an unknown degree, artificial difficulties in voting aimed at minorities, young people and poor people.
• The right-of-center Democratic leaders are Republicans light, and are more concerned with keeping control of the Democratic Party than defeating the Republicans.
• The election was a rejection of the failed economic policies of the Obama administration, but the result will be a return to the similar but more extreme failed policies of the George W. Bush administration.
• Americans are disillusioned with both parties.  American politics is due to get weird.

LINKS

Most Expensive Off-Year Election in History.  This has the transcript of Tom Ferguson’s interview, which for some reason I couldn’t find in the Real News Network.

A 2014 Mid-Term Election Post-Mortem: The Democratic Party Will Not Solve Our Problems by Kevin Gosztola for FireDogLake.

Could Obama have fixed the economy? by Ian Welsh.

Andrew Cuomo and the Sad State of the Working Families Party by Ari Paul for In These Times.  (Hat tip to Bill Harvey)

The End of the American Dream and How Democratic Apologists Are Creating It by Ian Welsh.

Tags: 2014 election, Democratic Party, election 2014, election campaigns, Republicans, The Democratic Party, Thomas Ferguson, voting