The Page: Where They Are Monday

istockphoto.com
McCain: Harrisburg, Pipersville, PA
Obama: Independence, MO

The Hill: Analysis: Campaign finance ruling’s impact likely small

The Supreme Court ruling that struck down the so-called “Millionaire’s Amendment” is likely to have a sporadic impact on the 2008 election, despite the large number of self-funding candidates running for office.
The opponents of self-funders generally have to be among the best fundraisers to take advantage of the higher contribution limits the Millionaire’s Amendment [...]

NY Times: Scruggs Sentenced to 5 Years in Bribery Scheme

Richard ”Dickie” Scruggs, who became one of the wealthiest civil lawsuit attorneys in the country by taking on tobacco, asbestos and insurance companies, was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for conspiring to bribe a judge.
Scruggs, 62, nearly fainted as the judge scolded him for his conduct, and people in the courtroom gasped as [...]

The Page: (Dis)Unity

A top Clinton donor calls Thursday’s Obama-Clinton fundraiser “a total dud,” while another says if “they don’t get to the debt shortly, we are not going to be happy campers.” More here.

Plus: Two prominent New Hampshire Democrats jump ship, launch “New Hampshire Democrats for McCain.“

Politico: Is Barack ‘bigger’ than Bill in H’wood?

Reiner, long one of Clinton’s biggest Tinseltown supporters, is big on Obama now.
Photo: AP

One of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s biggest supporters in Hollywood (or anywhere else, for that matter) has been director Rob Reiner. The politically active force behind such films as “Misery,” “This is Spinal Tap,” “When Harry Met Sally” and, most recently, “The [...]

Politico: GOP reps. advised to avoid party brand

A new playbook for House Republicans urges them to run essentially as independents, showing empathy for voters, emphasizing local issues and ignoring many traditional party campaign practices.
The advice for House candidates is part of an effort to minimize Republican losses in a year when voters are exasperated by the economy, the Iraq war and [...]

Orlando Sentinel: Dollars and cents of Florida fundraising leaves some causes hurting

With the political fundraising season in high gear, Florida is once again poised to pump some serious money into an inordinately deep and wide field of competitive local, state and national races.
Already, political givers had contributed in excess of $135 million to state campaigns and the presidential contenders through last spring — not including money [...]

Orlando Sentinel: Atwater camp defends checks it took during session

Senate President-designate Jeff Atwater drew a bit of heat last week because a political fund associated with him accepted $12,500 during last spring’s legislative session. Senators are barred from raising political money during the 60-day legislative session that runs from March through early May.
After the Orlando Sentinel reported on this blog that the Preserve the [...]

Washington Post: Supreme Court Rejects Controversial Campaign Finance Provision

The Supreme Court today narrowly overturned a controversial provision of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance legislation, ruling that it is unconstitutional to allow candidates to accept larger-than-normal contributions if their opponents use their own fortunes to finance election bids.
Writing for the majority in the 5 to 4 decision, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said the [...]

CQ Politics: Millionaire’s Decision Not Expected To Have Much Political Impact

The Supreme Court’s decision Thursday striking down the so-called “millionaires amendment” is not expected to have much of an impact on federal elections, although it could force a handful of this year’s congressional candidates to rethink their game plans.
The Court ruled 5-4 that a provision in the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (PL 107-155), designed [...]