The Federal Election Commission is giving twelve and a half million dollars each to the Republicans and Democrats for their national nominating conventions. But that public funding is matched, or exceeded, by what corporations are spending on the conventions. The exact amount may not be known until after the fall elections. These private contributions often take the form of donations to convention host committees and unregulated gifts of goods and services to the political parties. Some political observers wonder if private spending is buying influence beyond the reach of most voters. From Chicago, N-P-R's Cheryl Devall reports.
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