Fundraising activities by Jim Black, Mike Easley, and Richard Moore have led to more calls for public financing of campaigns. As Daren Bakst has made clear, public financing creates new problems and does not provide the promised solutions. The John Locke Foundation has long argued for council of state positions to be appointed, not elected. And of course the best way to limit the value of political contributions is to limit the amount of government spending, taxation, and regulation. Smaller government has fewer items to auction and fewer special interest constituencies willing to bid.

Microsoft and Wal-Mart created their government relations departments defensively. Toyota is expanding its efforts to preempt attacks.