A candidate rejects a leader but still takes his money
How a Senate race reveals the fine line between independence and dependence.

The story
A Democratic Senate candidate in Kansas rejects support from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer but receives millions in spending from a PAC aligned with Schumer.
Source: www.foxnews.com
Our reading
Adam Hamilton is rejecting Chuck Schumer, but the Schumer-aligned PAC is still spending millions on his campaign. It’s like saying you don’t want your dad’s money but then using his credit card to buy a car.
Marshall is trying to make the point that if you take the money, you’re beholden. But Hamilton’s team says he’s just being smart, like a kid who says they don’t want a allowance but then uses it to buy snacks.
It’s a strange dance where the rules say you can’t take the money directly, but the money still finds its way there, like a ghost in the machine of political finance.