Presidential Election

Bernie Sanders Rewrote The Rules Of Money In Politics

The senator from Vermont set a new standard for Democratic candidates and showed how fundraising without super PACs can work.

Bernie Sanders Rewrote The Rules Of Money In Politics
Getty Images / Win McNamee
SMS

His historic run for the White House is over, but Bernie Sanders rewrote the rules for money in politics. 

Sixty-two percent of his individual contributions came from small donors giving under $200, and yet he outraised Hillary Clinton's campaign. 

"Do you know what the average campaign contribution is?" Sanders asked at a rally. "Twenty-seven dollars."

Since the advent of limitless outside spending groups, Democrats have played by the rules of a super PAC system even as they campaigned against it. 

"He was convinced by his political advisers that they should not unilaterally disarm or else he could lose re-election," CBS reported about President Obama's 2012 effort.

But Sanders' success bucking big money set a new standard for Democrats — and showed many voters will reward candidates who pass that purity test on campaign finance.

This video includes images from Getty Images. Music provided courtesy of APM Music.