Laugh of the Day

I'll leave the campaign finance donor analysis in the capable hands of Gary Welsh at Advance Indiana (see here and keep checking back) and Paul Ogden at Ogden on Politics (see here and keep checking back). But, one thing made me laugh out loud reading the morning paper. Francesca Jarosz ran an item in the Indianapolis Star on Mayor Ballard's campaign finance report. In it there is a quote from one Jennifer Hallowell, "a general consultant to the Ballard campaign".

But Hallowell said the fact that Ballard has raised so much cash proves he's capable as mayor.

"It really demonstrates the support that he has and the leadership that he's provided," she said. "He's producing results, and people recognize that."

Of course, that can be read more than one way. Leadership and producing results in getting donations -- is pretty much what I read. How anyone can conclude a person is a capable mayor by looking at the size of his campaign coffers is a thread of logic I cannot follow. But, I do have an idea how Ms. Hallowell made the connection.

Although I don't feel the well of expertise to analyse donors and which firms they represent, doesn't mean I don't peruse the campaign finance reports. Even with my surface review of Mayor Ballard's report, payments to Hallowell Consulting jumped out at me. In fact, that's why I even recognized Ms. Hallowell's name this morning. Hallowell Consulting was paid a total of $92,857.14 between March 2, 2009, and November 6, 2009. On December 1, 2009, the firm donated $10,000 of in-kind consulting services. What that really means is that Hallowell Consulting took a pay cut for its services and the cut was used to pad Ballard's finance report.

You don't have to review many campaign finance reports to see there is often a shell game going on to make the 'donations' look larger than they really are. Candidate A donates $200 from his campaign war chest to the 'Committee to Elect Candidate B'. Candidate B, in turn, donates $200 from his war chest to the 'Friends of Candidate A' coffers. Helps both candidates look better.

But, aside from Hallowell Consulting's generous in-kind donation of advise to the Ballard Campaign, they still got $92,857.14 of cold hard cash. That's the kind of leadership a campaign consultant can believe in - and preach about.