The media places a lack of attention on the finances necessary to propel a candidate into the spotlight. Bernie Sanders has changed the game in politics with his grassroots approach to the money race involved in campaigns.
Campaign financing is not a miniscule budgetary expenditure. In fact, “Hillary Clinton’s campaign raised $47.5 million through June 30, more than any other campaign at that point.” The effect donations have on a campaign’s preference in policy are underreported, and often viewed as a norm for political candidates who cater to the corporations who are paying out the finances to keep running. The amounts often exceed thousands of dollars, making the politician’s policy positions as questionable as how long the financing will continue to distribute funds. Clinton’s ties to Wall Street-backed super PACs having dinged her some liberal backlash from Bernie supporters who strongly believe in his stance on income inequality.
“More than 80 percent of contributions to Bernie Sanders and Ben Carson through June 30 came from donations of $200 or less,” shows the differences in fundraising perspectives from the Democratic rivals. Bernie’s amassing of small donations has astonished the media reporters, so they tend to focus on the build-up of such commonplace numbers. Sanders has amassed campaign funds to keep his campaign going for a long while, surprising the well-tuned Clinton political machine.
Sanders plans to stop corporate control over modern day politics in order to rebuild the middle class’ influence in government.The drawbacks of Bernie’s success are that it misaligns focus from media onto his financing success rather than Clinton and Bush in their corporate-backed sanctuary of funds. The lack of attention received for campaign contributions has created a façade of a politician’s wealth being self-made rather than dependent on the beneficiaries.
The voters respond fervently when Bernie calls for a break down of the corrupt political system and the dismantling of the upper class’ influence on politics. As of February 2016, Clinton’s campaign has raised “$188 million, with $57.5 million of that total donated by super PACs.” Bernie has raised “$96.3 million, with <0.1 coming from any sort of large organization.” Clinton’s opposition in economic status gives her an advantage, for she is the candidate with the most contribution. Clinton’s involvement in politics for years and as a prior First Lady also give her a slight edge in the race for Democratic candidate.
Bernie, however, has raised millions of dollars from millions of small donations, a milestone for politics. Sanders, “states the size of the average contribution, as he did Tuesday: “And, you know what that average contribution was? $27.” This seemingly miniscule amount made a difference in the overall campaign funding, he was able to inspire around 1.3 million voters to donate.
Whether it is with campaign finance or extreme leftist views on controversial topics, Bernie Sanders is succeeding in the race more than critics or polls have been abe to predict.
Bernie Sanders' Nontraditional Campaign Methods 
