1. Big Donors:
Ken Griffin is a extraordinarily successful hedge fund manager who is also a “big” investor in political campaigns. His track record is abysmal. In 2022, for instance, he “invested” $50 million in the gubernatorial campaign of Richard Irwin, the mayor of Aurora, Illinois, that state’s second largest city. Mr. Irvin finished third in the GOP primary, with 15% of the vote. Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey won, with 58% of the vote. Mr. Bailey was endorsed by former president Trump. Griffin’s massive cash infusion into Irvin’s campaign could not have mattered less.
One of the odder features of modern campaign coverage is the importance attached to the campaign contributions of people like Mr. Griffin. Here’s an example:
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