Politics | public financing Edwards Could Lose Millions in Matching Funds $4.3M in ActBlue web donations may violate election law By Jonas Oransky Posted Nov 19, 2007 4:08 PM CST Copied Democratic presidential candidate, former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., participate in a "Presidential Forum on Global Warming and America's Energy Future," in Los Angeles Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) (Associated Press) A tricky online fundraising format could dent John Edwards’ clean donations reputation—and cost him millions in federal funds. Edwards is the only top-tier Democrat accepting public financing, which matches individual donations up to $250. The system's exclusion of funds “drawn on the account of a committee” may imperil matching for $4.3 million from ActBlue, which funnels online donations, the Politico reports. The populist southerner has asked the FEC to rule on ActBlue's eligibility, arguing that it should be treated as a processing agent for individual donations. Complicating matters, Edwards has spun his decision to go with public financing—largely a matter of desperate financial straits—as a stand against special interests. The latest twist in the PAC storyline could mean bad publicity. Read These Next Actor Sam Rockwell gets residuals from movie he wasn't in. Gavin Newsom has filed a massive lawsuit against Fox News. Rick Hurst, Dukes of Hazzards' dopey deputy, dies at 79 New York Times ranks the best movies of the 21st century. Report an error