Malbin

Even though he will be far ahead of the rest of the Republican field, Romney needs to show that he can sustain it and get new donors in, said Michael Malbin, executive director of the non-partisan Campaign Finance Institute.

Romney leads GOP fundraising race but trails his 2008 pace 2011

Campaign-finance experts, such as Malbin, warn that it is too early to dismiss any candidate.

Romney leads GOP fundraising race but trails his 2008 pace 2011

Being ahead at this stage financially doesn't win you a single vote, Malbin said.

Romney leads GOP fundraising race but trails his 2008 pace 2011

Malbin and his colleagues also call for a central government website to host, "all electorally relevant material about political spending that is required to be disclosed under current law," and for States and the federal government to provide free software to facilitate electronic disclosure filings that would be made immediately available to the public.

Citizens United Response To Be Very Limited, Will More Meaningful Reforms Follow? 2010

For his part, Malbin sees this as an understandable approach, telling me, "I don't think anybody would look at the Senate right now and think they could get 60 votes to pass [something like] the Fair Elections Act this year."

Citizens United Response To Be Very Limited, Will More Meaningful Reforms Follow? 2010

For example, Malbin tells me that in most states it would only take 4 or 5 percent of the electorate giving $50 each to introduce meaningful balance to elections for Governor and the State legislature.

Citizens United Response To Be Very Limited, Will More Meaningful Reforms Follow? 2010

Malbin tells me that these ideas to activate and engage "the many" are beginning to take hold alongside the traditional instinct to just construct more temporary walls.

Citizens United Response To Be Very Limited, Will More Meaningful Reforms Follow? 2010

According to Malbin, the only ultimately effective counterbalance to corporate and special interest spending in elections is an expansion of the playing field to include "the many."

Citizens United Response To Be Very Limited, Will More Meaningful Reforms Follow? 2010

Malbin, the Executive Director of the nonpartisan Campaign Finance Institute in Washington, DC, sees the Schumer-Van Hollen bill as good in spirit and worth pushing through to the president's desk, but, ultimately, as a political necessity with only a few very mild, superficial policy benefits.

Citizens United Response To Be Very Limited, Will More Meaningful Reforms Follow? 2010

Malbin is one of the experts pushing for this new approach to campaign finance.

Citizens United Response To Be Very Limited, Will More Meaningful Reforms Follow? 2010