What the GOP No-Shows Revealed

Regarding the Sept. 28 news story "Leading GOP Candidates Skip Debate on Black Issues":

Every politician knows that fundraising can make or break a candidacy. But in refusing to go to the Morgan State University debate, GOP presidential hopefuls admit an even nastier truth. If you need to troll for money, you go to the predominantly white, wealthy areas. You don't go looking in neighborhoods where folks are likely to be African American, Latino or members of households whose income is below the elite range.

Consider Baltimore, the city at the center of this controversy. In the 2004 elections, the wealthy, mostly white residents who live in the Zip code 21210 in the Roland Park neighborhood, home of majestic houses and country clubs, contributed $170,000 to presidential candidates, according to an analysis by Public Campaign. In contrast, about seven miles away, in the predominantly African American neighborhood of Johnston Square, where one out of three households is below the poverty level, presidential candidates collected just $45,000 from the Zip code 21202 -- even though nearly twice as many people live there.

This is a primary reason why, once elected, candidates neglect the needs and concerns of African Americans, Latinos and other Americans who do not give large contributions but prioritize the wish lists of the pharmaceutical, oil and banking industries.

There are bills in Congress to change the campaign finance dynamic. If Congress adopts a system of comprehensive public financing, perhaps in September 2011 the candidates will be courting us, the voters, instead of big-money contributors.

NICK NYHART

Washington

SPENCER OVERTON

Chevy Chase

Nick Nyhart is president and chief executive of Public Campaign, a nonprofit organization that supports campaign finance reform. Spencer Overton is a professor of law at George Washington University .

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I must admit, being a staunch Democrat, that Sept. 27 was the first time I watched a Republican debate in its entirety, and I truly came away educated. Although the headlines seemed to be about the "top" Republican contenders who were not present, I enjoyed hearing from the lesser-known candidates and found myself in agreement with several. I was particularly impressed with Rep. Duncan Hunter (Calif.). When it came to the legal system, immigration and health care, I was in direct agreement with him. (Yikes, that scares me!) In essence, I think the candidates who didn't show up gave the lesser-known candidates needed time in the spotlight.

SHARON FOSTER

Alexandria