Hadsall addresses the issue himself in today's column, which examines the most recent filings made with the Missouri Ethics Commission by area politicians:
War chest is another name for a candidate’s campaign fund-raising account. Newspaper people love the term because it’s short, descriptive and to the point.
But, politicians hate it for the same reasons utility companies hate the word hike instead of increase. War chest carries negative connotations and highlights the competitive, cut-throat nature of elections.
Truth be told, there’s not a better way to say it. Elections are fights, and they take resources to win. More money doesn’t always equal a victory, but it helps a candidate challenge his or her competition.
To all who hate war chest, get used to it. You will see it frequently before the November elections — especially with Missouri’s new law of unlimited donations.
But this column is your reprieve. You won’t see the term again in this column — I’ll dig through the thesaurus and come up with something else. You’re welcome.
Since writing that initial post, I have noticed there were many times in the past when I used the term "war chest," and now I am so cognizant of doing it again that I have been overusing such phrases as "campaign account" or "in the bank." Of course, I can always rely on the old standby, "war chest, as the Joplin Globe calls it."
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