The money game

If you have any doubts about why public office is out of the reach of the common man, spending reports from this year's races for Congress and governor's seats provide the answer. You have to raise gobs of money. The latest total nationwide: $3.1 billion. And which race in which state is expected to lead the pack? The contest for U.S. Senate from good ol' New Jersey, with Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez and his Republican opponent, state Sen. Thomas Kean Jr., likely to together spend $28 million. Yet, candidates gleefully claim they're not beholden to the donors. Says who? All for a job that pays $162,100 a year.

It's all about getting the message out. Most of the money goes to TV, followed by direct mail. And what do the candidates get for all their advertising dollars? A public in New Jersey that's so turned off by politicians that more than half don't vote and even more wouldn't think of affiliating with a political party. But come Tuesday, enough people will exercise their cherished freedom to vote and elect one of these big spenders. I guess money talks . . . but does it have to be this way?