On August 21, the Federal Election Commission unanimously voted to let John McCain withdraw his application for primary season matching funds. However, the Commission also rebutted McCain’s argument that he didn’t need the FEC’s permission to withdraw that application.
McCain had applied for primary season matching funds in 2007, and the FEC had ruled that he had qualified. McCain used that determination to obtain a place on the Republican presidential primary ballots in Delaware and Ohio. Without the certification that he had qualified for the funds, he would have needed to circulate petitions in those two states. However, McCain never took the money.
If the FEC had ruled that he could not withdraw, he would then have been in violation of the law, since he has spent far more than permitted for candidates who accept primary season matching funds. Thanks to ElectionLawBlog for this news.
So considering that he used the matching funds as collateral for a loan back in the second quarter, does he default on that loan since the collateral is gone?
I don’t know. The FEC specifically said it wasn’t settling the question of the loan. It will probably revisit that later.
Rough and brutal on the new kids, most helpful for the Dems and GOP! Ah, American democracy, one more choice than Hilter or Stalin….