patrick.net

You’re using the wrong metric in looking at dollars spent. An explanation in two articles, if I may be lazy:

1. “ Aipac traditionally endorsed candidates sympathetic to Israel as a signal for others to fund their campaigns. But in December 2021, the group for the first time in its 70-year history moved into direct financial support for individual political campaigns by launching a super political action committee, the United Democracy Project (UDP).”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/22/aipac-pro-israel-lobby-group-us-elections

2. “ AIPAC has a somewhat unique model that a simple dollar comparison might miss. AIPAC-linked activists often begin donating to future members of Congress early in their political careers, thus encouraging other pro-Israel donors to fund and otherwise support candidates with long-term promise. Pro-Israel activists are a political force, but the reasons apparently go beyond sheer spending power or the influence of AIPAC-linked networks.”

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/how-influential-is-aipac