Study the chart of top contributions to an imaginary political campaign, and then answer the question.

Campaign Contributions
Campaign Donors Total Donations
Technology Companies PAC $29,469,301
Manufacturing Groups PAC $55,338,061
Mining Super PAC $60,523,239
Lawyers/Law Firms $61,200,325
Retired persons $65,523,239
Which group of campaign donors might have more influence on a candidate’s policies? Why?

(4 points)

1 answer

To assess which group of campaign donors might have more influence on a candidate’s policies, we should consider the total donations made by each group.

  1. Mining Super PAC: $60,523,239
  2. Lawyers/Law Firms: $61,200,325
  3. Retired persons: $65,523,239
  4. Manufacturing Groups PAC: $55,338,061
  5. Technology Companies PAC: $29,469,301

The group that contributed the highest amount is the Retired persons, with total donations of $65,523,239. This indicates they have the most financial power in this scenario.

Typically, higher contributions can lead to greater influence, as candidates may feel obliged to cater to the interests and policies favored by their largest supporters. The Retired persons group might have specific interests related to social security, healthcare, and retirement policies, which could be significant in shaping a candidate's platform.

While other groups, such as Lawyers/Law Firms and the Mining Super PAC, have also made substantial contributions, the sheer amount from retired persons positions them as potentially more influential in shaping policies that affect a wider demographic of the electorate, particularly in terms of social services.

In summary, the Retired persons group might have more influence on a candidate’s policies due to their substantial total donation amount, which suggests that candidates may prioritize their interests when formulating policy positions.