Candidates on the Gold-Plated Campaign Trail

May 3, 2007 — -- As 2008 presidential candidates campaign this political season, they are jetting around the country in style and spending money hand over fist.

Take last week's debate in South Carolina. Four Democratic senators flew in on four separate private jets.

As for hotel rooms, Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani used to demand a two-bedroom, nonsmoking suite on an upper floor when he was a paid speaker. As a candidate, he's staying at posh places like the Hotel Andalucia in Santa Barbara, Calif., where a room runs $435 a night.

Former Sen. John Edwards hasn't been excluded from criticism. First, his primping made the rounds on YouTube, and then Edwards had to explain why he spent $400 on a haircut.

"If the question is … whether I live a privileged and blessed lifestyle now, the answer to that's yes -- a lot of us do," Edwards said.

For some voters, that explanation might have been good enough, but it won't appease everyone.

"If you're perceived as a common man and people find out that you've gotten a $400 haircut, that can be a problem," said Democratic consultant Steve McMahon.

In 2008, money drives campaigns and campaigns drive really nice, air-conditioned buses with Corinthian leather seats. It's a far cry from Jimmy Carter carrying his own luggage.

But for the major candidates, even flying commercial isn't practical.

"The only way [to] travel efficiently and get to places you need to go in terms of debates, fundraisers, rallies and touching voters where they live is using private planes," said Stephanie Cutter, former communications director for the 2004 John Kerry-John Edwards campaign.

The race for the White House back in 1920 was the first time there was a big controversy about how much money was spent on the campaign trail. Gen. Leonard Wood spent more than $2 million on his run.