Election 2004

Dean campaign eschews public cash

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Front-runner Howard Dean became on Saturday the first Democratic presidential candidate ever to reject taxpayer money and avoid the accompanying spending limits, saying he had to act to compete against President Bush's cash-rich campaign.

"We have supported public financing, but the unabashed actions of this president to undercut our Democratic process with floods of special interest money have forced us to abandon a broken system," the former Vermont governor said at a news conference.

By not taking the public money, Dean can spend unlimited amounts for the nomination and, if successful, through the summer before the general election season starts.

So can Bush, who has no Republican opponent. The president already has said he will go without public funds, as he did in the 2000 GOP primaries and raised a record $100-plus million.

That makes 2004 first race in which candidates from both major parties will forgo the Watergate-era public financing system.

At least two of Dean's rivals - Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and retired Gen. Wesley Clark - are also considering such a step.

Dean and his staff said he would consider limiting his spending in the primaries to the $45-million that would be available if he were accepting public financing, but no decision had been made.

"We just gave up almost $20-million, so we have to raise that money before we even have a discussion about it," Dean said.

Some Democrats were quick to pounce on Dean's decision.

"Gov. Dean was saying what a Democratic principle it is to have campaign finance reform and what a big issue it would be if someone stepped outside," Kerry said. "That's when he wasn't raising a lot of money. Now, Mr. Change-Your-Opinion-for-Expediency is saying, "Oh, I'm now able to raise money. Maybe we should get out of the system.' I think somewhere along the line, fundamental principles are important."

The campaigns of Sen. Joe Lieberman and Rep. Dick Gephardt also criticized the move.

Each of the nominees selected at the Democratic and GOP conventions next summer will be eligible for about $74-million in government dollars for the Nov.2 election.

Dean made his decision based on a tally of 600,000 supporters, whom he asked to vote by e-mail, Internet, telephone or regular mail through Friday. He said 85 percent of those who weighed in - 105,000, according to campaign officials - urged him to opt out.

Candidates who accept public dollars in the primaries can get up to $18.7-million in taxpayer money but are limited to about $45-million in spending.

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