Which statement about candidates and PACs is supported by the material?

• A. Candidates with wealthy backers have a greater chance of winning.
• B. PACs have no influence on elections.
• C. PACs only fund advertisements, not campaigns.
• D. PACs control the nomination process.

Answer: (A)

Money in politics shapes who wins elections. PACs gather contributions from individuals and groups and use that money to support campaigns through ads, staff, travel, and get-out-the-vote efforts. When a candidate has wealthy backers, they gain access to larger resources, which means more advertising, more outreach, and more organizational capacity to mobilize supporters. This increased ability to communicate with voters and organize a campaign can translate into a higher likelihood of victory, which is why the statement about wealthy backers having a greater chance of winning is supported by how campaigns operate and how money influences outcomes.

The other ideas don’t fit because PACs do influence elections by funding promotional activities and campaign operations, not just ads; the nomination process is determined by primary voting and party rules, not by PACs; and PACs’ impact goes beyond merely funding advertisements.