My huge problem.

It's the biggest crisis in my career. Nothing I've faced before measures up to this. It's going to be tougher than fighting the oil companies on gas prices. More challenging than standing up to Ashcroft on assisted suicide. I'm bullish on nano-, but this problem is macro.

Namely: What in the world am I going to do with a $4 million campaign war chest? With the guys I'm running against, I could win on a budget of $14.27. The six of them together don't add up to one and a half John Lims. I've already spent 600 grand, but for the life of me, I have no clue what to do with the rest.

For $3.4 million, I could buy every voter in Oregon a stuffed teddy bear that looks like me. My campaign buttons could be 14-karat gold. Instead of coffees, we could have caviars. Hold the Pabst--serve the volunteers Archery Summit and Lemelson.

I don't want to have a bunch of money still sitting around after the election. I remember when Bob Packwood was cleaning out his office; he had $342,000 of excess campaign funds and two half-empty boxes of chenin blanc. It was sad.

Besides, you can't spend the political contributions on fun personal stuff anymore. I guess I could leave the money in the bank in case I run again in six years. But jeepers, do I still want to be doing this then? I'll be over 60. By that time, I was hoping to be in the Cabinet. (Note to self: Set up another lunch with Hillary.)

--Posted by Ron at 11:14 pm

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WWeek 2015