System to publicly fund campaigns for President is almost entirely broken and with few takers

From the Ballot Access News article, “Martin O’Malley and Jill Stein Likely to be the Only Presidential Candidates Who Will Receive Public Funding in January 2016” by Richard Winger:

Presidential candidates are free to be raising money now so as to qualify for primary season matching funds. However, the FEC won’t release any such funds until January 4, 2016. It seems likely that in January, two presidential candidates will start receiving the funds. Martin O’Malley has already raised total contributions of $3,234,569, according to his September 30, 2015 campaign finance report, so it seems inevitable he has raised at least $5,000 in each of 20 states, in small amounts (only $250 per donor counts).

Jill Stein also expects to qualify by January 4, 2016. Her campaign has updated the chart on her webpage that shows her progress. .

Of course, many other Republican presidential candidates, as well as Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, have also received enough donations to qualify, but they don’t want to accept primary season matching funds, partly because the money comes with strings, relating to how much can be spent in any particular state. Larry Lessig had received enough donations to qualify, but he has withdrawn from the Democratic race.