Tom Campbell

* Re “Campaign Cuts Into Campbell’s Voting Record,” July 24: You quoted Steve Weissman saying, “While it is bad [Rep. Tom] Campbell and other candidates are spending increasing amounts of time away from Congress, it is worthless to simply criticize them [when] the real solution is to get spending limits on these campaigns.” But Campbell’s problems do not stem from Sen. Dianne Feinstein spending him into oblivion. They stem from his inability to raise a competitive amount of money. So-called “campaign finance reforms” would do nothing to help him. Campbell is having problems raising money because he has to raise millions in small (at the most $1,000) increments.

Furthermore, it is not the campaign finance system that is forcing Campbell to raise such large amounts of money. The fault lies with the limited and often biased media coverage of campaigns, the fact that most voters don’t thoroughly research candidates or issues and California’s large size. The need for large amounts of money will always exist regardless of the “reforms” we enact. The only question is whether our campaign finance laws will hamper underdog candidates such as Campbell and prevent them from ever being competitive.

KYLE OKITA

Sherman Oaks

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* Your article has shown me the way out of a long-time dilemma. At election time, as a dyed-in-the-wool lifelong Democrat, I have voted reluctantly for Sen. Feinstein. However, the published list of missed votes by Rep. Campbell suggests to me that his priorities are very much like my own. What he let pass and let fail suit me fine.

Probably his one vote did not make any difference in the outcome of any of those roll calls. But it might have, and that tells me something about where his heart is.

On this one candidate, I will cross the party line. Chalk me up as a Democrat for Campbell.

MARY MATOSIAN MORABITO

Temple City