The underlying reason for McCain-Feingold finance "reform" was purportedly to take money out of politics so as to eliminate its corrupting influence. So why is it that we are kept apprised by a periodic scorecard which details the comparative amounts the candidates have raked in? Is the amount of contributions disclosed offered to your readers as a measure of his-her electability?

It was curious to read that the portion a candidate receives from out-of-state contributors is considered by a candidate's spokesman an indication of national appeal. And here I thought that a member of Congress was elected to represent his-her constituents.