THE American presidential race in 2008 will be the costliest campaign yet, with the candidates of each of the two main parties getting through $500m each by November. Add the cash raised by the losing candidates, spending by national committees, political-action groups and the like, and Fortune magazine reckons the total cost could be $3 billion. Campaign-finance reformers bemoan the corrupting influence of such large sums. But a more sanguine columnist, George Will, points out that Americans spend $2 billion on Easter treats.

AFP