Still, he struggled against a scornful public’s perception of a
wealthy man dabbling in politics. He lost a bid for the Senate in 1982 and for
governor in 1998. However, those campaigns, and his work as state auditor,
earned him public-sector credibility in the eyes of voters. That, and the $12
million of his own capital he spent, finally secured him a seat in the Senate in
2000. (The run was actually more costly, Dayton notes. Accounting for the
capital gains taxes he paid on the assets he sold to finance his run, he
estimates that it actually cost him about $20 million.)Although he invested enormous resources, Dayton’s commanding
personal style, independence and idealism alienated his Senate colleagues and
limited his effectiveness as a lawmaker. Larry Jacobs, director of the Humphrey
Institute’s Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of
Minnesota, says Dayton’s independent streak verges on bull-headedness and pushed
a wedge between him and his Senate peers. This kept Dayton from forming the necessary political collaborations and
prevented significant bills he championed from advancing. But Dayton insists he
was unwilling to compromise his political positions—such as his opposition to
the war in Iraq and growth of the deficit—even if he could have made legislative
progress by doing so.  | MARK DAYTON |
In April, Time anointed Dayton one of the five worst
serving senators, labeling him "the blunderer." The magazine cited his gaffes
and some erratic behavior, including his decision to shut down his Washington
office in October 2004 because of an unspecified terrorist threat. But
Time’s
dubious distinction may reflect Washington’s view of his service rather than his
popularity back home. "His constituents, they don’t mind him being a naysayer,"
Jacobs explains, pointing to polls that show Dayton has earned about 50 percent
or better voter approval ratings throughout his tenure. He has garnered support
at home with generous gestures. For example, each year he has used the after-tax
portion of his approximately $165,000 Senate salary to charter buses to
transport senior citizens from Minnesota to Canada to buy inexpensive
prescription drugs, a move that won him many friends among older voters (but
none in the pharmaceutical industry).The obvious drawback to self-funding for Dayton is his
inability to continue to do it; he is not seeking reelection mainly because he
cannot afford to finance another campaign. He attempted to raise some capital in
January 2005, but his efforts met with a tepid response, which is not surprising
because he finds the idea of asking for contributions distasteful. "The way I
was brought up, it was just something you didn’t do," he says. "We had money, so
we didn’t have to ask for it. I don’t enjoy it per se." He adds, "I don’t have a
problem raising money for organizations or even other candidates, but just hate
to ask for money for myself."
WHAT'S WEALTH GOT TO DO WITH IT? The five wealthiest men and women currently serving in the House and Senate contributed little, if any, of their own money to their last political campaigns. Yet all of them, save John Kerry, won. (Sources: Roll Call, Federal Elections Commission) | | Last election | Result | Net worth last election | % Contributed to campaign | | John Kerry (D-Mass.) | 2004 presidential campaign | Lost to George W. Bush | $1 billion | 0.6 | Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) | 2000 Senate race | Won | $200 million | 0 | Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) | 2000 Senate race | Won | $300 million | 1.6 | Jane Harman (D-Calif.) | 2002 House race | Won | $100 million | 0 | Darrell Issa
(R-Calif.) | 2002 House race | Won | $110 million | 0 |
Dayton also dislikes the quid pro quos embedded in political
contributions, seeing them as "investments for which [contributors are] looking
for something in return." His reluctance to fundraise has left him without the
crucial database of individual supporters needed to support a reelection
campaign. And, while self-funding allowed him to indulge his independent streak,
it also isolated him from well-connected insiders. "I’m not a ready
compromiser," he admits. This is a particularly debilitating character trait for
those serving in a minority party, which he found frustrating. He strongly
disagrees with the Bush administration on issues ranging from the Iraq war to
the size of the deficit. "My own political convictions are what drove to me seek
this office and to serve in it."Despite the differences and setbacks, Dayton says he values his
experience on Capitol Hill. "It was extremely expensive, but it was worth it."
Elizabeth Harris, based in New York, is a staff writer for
Worth.
Additional Information
 The $60 Million Message
Shallow Roots
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