This interests me for a couple of reasons:
http://abcnews.go.com/...
First, because of my somewhat cynical yet hardly implausible theory that people who have significant funds tend to vote with their cash - either to 'stay the course' or to change things NOW.
However, 'rational voter' theories, as for example here:
http://www.crest.ox.ac.uk/...
tend to posit that who spends money on which party do so for different reasons. Some do it to actually influence an outcome that changes the leadership; others do it reflexively to help their parties, regardless of the perception of whether that party's policies are effective or not.
Basically it comes down to: I'll spend my money because I always give to this party, no matter who they are or what their doing; or - I'll spend my money on X party to make a change in leadership.
The idea that Democrats are getting donations at 3 to 4 times what they were getting four years ago is indicative of something, but what?
So my question to Kossacks is anecdotal: have you spent more money on races this year than you did four years ago? And if so, are you doing it because it's your habit, or do you feel somehow more compelled now than you did then?