> From the outside the US has shifted to a oligarchy where money buys elections.

The data simply doesn't support that narrative.

Looking at the last 4 presidential elections:

2024: Trump won, Harris outspent him ($1.9B vs $1.6B)

2020: Biden won, Biden outspent Trump ($1.06B vs $785M)

2016: Trump won, Clinton outspent him ($614M vs $368M)

2012: Obama won, Obama outspent Romney (~$1.1B vs ~$1B, essentially tied)

The higher spender won twice and lost twice. 2016 is particularly striking - Clinton outspent Trump by roughly $200-450 million depending on how you count it, yet lost.

Why are Democrat candidates consistently outspending Republican candidates? I thought the Republicans were the party for rich? And thus should be getting more money from the rich.