What are the chances of an average income earner(under $100,000/year)ever winning a future US presidential election, and why? What would be the pros and cons of it happening?

It wont happen. Unfortunatly money influnces politics. Maybe that why most people feel all candidates this year are crappy and we will just be picking the lesser of the evils instead of the best person for the job.

Somehow I missed your logic. Are they crappy because they have large incomes and productive fundraising? Or is it that they don’t have nearly enough to truly qualify?

To answer the OP’s question, I do not believe anyone with a sub-100k income will ever make it through the campaign season unless s/he knows enough people in lofty positions, has experience working the system to get things done, and has phenomenal fundraising capabilities. Besides money, the biggest roadblock is “who you know”.

@squirbel My logic is the pool to select from is narrowed by only the rich being truly potential candidates. The lack of money usually eliminates them from knowing enough wealthy contributers(birds of a feather). A personal observation I notice is the candidates with the largest war chest usually make it to the final ballot.

It wont happen. In addition to what gooch said.

Politics also influence money.
To become President you must be 35 years old. If your serious you must gain political experience. In doing so their earning income will already be above 100,000. Congress, Senate, even many mayors are above that income.
As for investments anyone with the stamina to get out and meet people who will either help them in their sincere cause to improve The USA, or their quest for the presidency will be exposed to quality investment advice that will boost their their other income.

If your going to make a difference your going to have something to say. Public speaking and book writing will push you well over the 100K income. Obamas first book made him 2million right off the bat. And he moved Uptown here we come.

If you had a friend who you felt honorable enough to become president you would do all you could to improve his or her chances of making it. So will others and their income will grow.

What the real question is can someone with true desire to improve the country for the sake of the country make it to President without becoming tangled in the trappings of success? This also is not likely.

Ironic you’d ask this question. I was listening to Dan Carlin’s podcast today and he was talking about this very issue. The primary reason that the candidates with the most money usually get the nomination is because exposure costs so much—and is so effective. That’s why most Americans have never heard of some of the people with the best ideas.

Carlin’s suggestion was a network (he suggested calling it PWN—Presidential Wannabe Network) dedicated only to giving free television exposure to serious candidates, thereby negating some of the need for huge “war chests.”

that such a great idea!

Try going to www.worldreports.org and read the archives there. It will make you wonder who is really running this country and why Washington D.C. is still a foreign country.

Charlie: that is the most ridiculous site.

Of Course it is if you can’t read the writting on the wall. Read all the archives. Check out 9/11 and the Oaklahoma Bombing. Don’t take my word for it nor very little that you hear as “news” put out by the Media. See who owns the Media, see who owns the Federal Reserve. What is really going on is so far out of most peoples reach they can’t beleive anything even when it is right there in Black and white. Like how come over 150 people are dead, includeing Foster, that has had ty’s to the Clinton’s. And you wouldn’t want to know what is really going on in Texas when it comes to the Johnsons and Bush’s.

The real question isn’t whether an average joe can become president, it’s whether anyone can win an election without taking money from special interest groups. Can a candidate make it without being contaminated by soft money? I think Ross Perot proved the answer is no :(