Republican congressional candidate Marilinda Garcia has taken the unusual -- though legal -- step of paying herself a salary from her campaign.Click to watch News 9's coverage.In her amended campaign finance report, which came online late yesterday, Garcia was paid $3,335.15 on Sept. 30. The expense was listed as “payroll” as it is for other employees on her campaign. The amount she was paid was a few dollars more than her campaign manager received for his August salary.The Garcia campaign confirmed that the payment was for salary, given that she is campaigning full-time now.Garcia is facing Democratic incumbent Annie Kuster in the state's competitive 2nd Congressional District.Under the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law candidates for federal office are allowed to pay themselves, with the theory that this allows regular people to run for office, not just the rich who can afford to take a year off to campaign.No other candidate in New Hampshire has done this in recent years. Candidates must weigh paying themselves against upsetting potential donors to the campaign.Politically, what is head-scratching is that if she just paid herself the day after, on Oct. 1, she wouldn't have to report this payment until next week where it might not get much attention since it is during debate season.

Republican congressional candidate Marilinda Garcia has taken the unusual -- though legal -- step of paying herself a salary from her campaign.

Click to watch News 9's coverage.


In her amended campaign finance report, which came online late yesterday, Garcia was paid $3,335.15 on Sept. 30. The expense was listed as “payroll” as it is for other employees on her campaign. The amount she was paid was a few dollars more than her campaign manager received for his August salary.

The Garcia campaign confirmed that the payment was for salary, given that she is campaigning full-time now.

Garcia is facing Democratic incumbent Annie Kuster in the state's competitive 2nd Congressional District.

Under the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law candidates for federal office are allowed to pay themselves, with the theory that this allows regular people to run for office, not just the rich who can afford to take a year off to campaign.

No other candidate in New Hampshire has done this in recent years. Candidates must weigh paying themselves against upsetting potential donors to the campaign.

Politically, what is head-scratching is that if she just paid herself the day after, on Oct. 1, she wouldn't have to report this payment until next week where it might not get much attention since it is during debate season.