By Erik R. Bergling

The Director of Secret Service Mark Sullivan told the House Appropriations Committee last week that the Secret Service is feelings the strains of unprecedented demands as a result of this year’s presidential campaign. The demands are largely the result of having to provide protection for two high profile presidential candidates, Senators Clinton and Obama. Senator Clinton was receiving Secret Service protection prior to the election by virtue of her position as the former First Lady. Senator Obama started receiving Secret Service earlier than most candidates in response to purported threats against him. We need only look at Pakistan and Benazir Bhutto to recognize the importance of protecting the integrity of our electoral process by protecting the presidential candidates. Senator McCain, as the de facto Republican candidate has declined Secret Service protection so far.

One very interesting bit of information from Director Sullivan’s testimony was how the Secret Service calculates the cost of protecting a candidate. According to testimony the Secret Service calculates protection based on a figure derived from “protection day.” “Protection day” is the cost of protecting one candidate for one day. That figure is currently between $37K and $38K. Calculate that number by the number of days a candidate receives protection and you arrive at the total cost of protecting a presidential candidate.

As the campaign cycle intensifies the demands and the cost will increase. Is it worth it? Every bit. We spend lots of money in the U.S. on pork barrel politics. Protecting presidential candidates is not one of them.


Wardy Landrau
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