The 1998 election tapped a town-level John Silber/Richard Nixon, but spread awareness of Hyde's timesizing program. In '98, Hyde accepted contributions but rejected pressures to change into the mindless fundraiser that the field rep from the National Republican Congressional Committee wanted - this gent phoned and told Hyde he was wasting his time shaking hands, going to street fairs, doing debates or forums or anything but "getting on the phone 6-8 hours a day and asking for money" - (and as Dave Barry says, we are not making this up, folks).

"But you didn't spend money and win the election!"

To neckless politicos and armchair Machiavellis for whom winning (in conventional terms) is everything and no one should run unless they're going to raise money and run a big campaign to uphold the banner of the Grand Olde Party or at least the two-party system, Hyde has this to say -
He is perfectly willing and able to expand his "accordion" campaign(s) if and when he senses that more than a handful of professional grousers (who typically want somebody else to do it all) support the project. "And I'm not going into debt for these couch potatoes," says Hyde. "If the 'party of the rich' won't even do matching funds for up to the first $1000 I raise, that's still no reason to deny the famed 8th District a choice and the media at least a 'David and Goliath' contest to write about. (And maybe some of them will glimpse the significance of Timesizing!)"

1998 was a great opportunity because it became a race for an open seat. However, no part of the Republican establishment sensed the opportunity in any but "if only" terms that left Hyde out, such as, "If only we could get the signatures for millionaire's son Ron Vining of Medford to run" and "If only Joe Malone would run for the Eighth" (or latterly, even "Weld"!). While these "pros" were busying themselves in the land of wishful thinking, Hyde was the only Republican actually in the race with the signatures - for the second time in a row. And while some of these guys were actually accusing Hyde of not being a team player (e.g., Medford Republicans - not even in the District, and not even supporting their District's candidate, Pat Long), were they rallying to his banner? No-o-o. Instead, like four out of five volunteers when they heard Hyde was pro-choice, they vanished. And let's not forget the famed "early and numerous setbacks."

Hyde is not under any illusions that he can single-handedly bring back the two-party system to Massachusetts. He's not a masochist who goes into debt for a bunch of people who "want someone else to do it." Unless a lot more people in this District and State get a lot more nostalgic about the two-party system and take the initiative in sending contributions to Hyde and his colleagues (both Pat Long in the 7th District and Eric Bleicken in the10th spent a mere $7000 but got 30% of the vote, Vince Dixon for State Senate spent less than $1000 and got 20%...)
OR
get off their butts and demand a complete end to money in politics (perhaps by demanding that votes-per-dollar count instead of just votes),
then Democrats and "unenrolled," flattering themselves that they're setting an example for the nation, will continue to turn this state into a one-party dictatorship where machine politicians win overcrowded "Democratic" primaries.

Hyde's 1998 campaign contributions -

Total 1998 political contributions $375

Estimated campaign expenses (mainly xeroxing and phone calls) $400-500

In case you've missed the point, Hyde's campaigns are about IDEAS, not money. And this year, the ideas part was highly successful - the book published after a 24-year gestation, the website from hell developed, the presentation of the concept to scores of people via ten times as many forums this year than two years ago, the soundbyting of the program for myriads of markets.... So, as far as Hyde is concerned, this was an extremely successful campaign that he wouldn't have missed for the world.

"So you just ran to sell a book!"

This was the word on the street two years ago for why Hyde was running - when Hyde didn't even have a book to sell! It was an accusation of which Hyde definitely wanted to be guilty this time, because he regards it as a compliment, not an insult. Hyde would like to see more candidates, not fewer, running for public office who have enough ideas to put out a book.