MIDTERM STIMULUS

Campaign Spending Helped Local Businesses

From caterers to country clubs.

For one of the most expensive midterm elections in history, the candidates spent wisely. Many small business owners say their company saw a boom when candidates utilized their services. Candidates were also careful to choose smaller media consulting firms, rather than large corporations and split their business evenly amongst competing companies. From car rentals, to country clubs, candidates spent an overwhelming amount of money on the smaller aspects of a campaign. A Washington Post analysis of this year’s midterms show that candidates spent $50 million on catering and liquor, $3.2 million at country clubs and $500,000 of coffee, donuts and pizza. Republican candidate Meg Whitman paid $109 million to Smart Media Group in Alexandria, and lost the governor race in California. The Republican party of Hawaii spent almost $1,000 on personalized M&Ms.