He was also an unsuccessful federal candidate in 1878 and 1882.

Even before its founding, the money contributed toward federal candidates has been spent.

But federal candidates are a focus of the national committees, too.

And it would raise current individual contribution limits from $1,000 a federal candidate each election to $3,000.

Any advertising that the groups buy to support federal candidates would have to be paid for using only this so-called hard money.

That means an individual would be able to give $3,000 a year to a federal candidate instead of the current $1,000 limit.

But under the new law, federal candidates and national parties are prohibited from raising or spending such money.

For example, individuals would be allowed to contribute $2,000 per election to a federal candidate instead of the current $1,000 limit.

The decision put federal candidates in a relentless money chase.

This so-called soft money was not to be spent directly to aid particular federal candidates.