[EL] Serious Question About Romney Overseas Trip

[John Tanner]

My general recollection is that foreign trips - a European swing and a trip
to Israel - have been routine for non-incumbent candidates for President
and some local (mayoral) candidates for decades.  They return with pictures
of themselves talking to world leaders and they get to eat in Paris.

I have read that Obama/the First Lady have held fundraisers abroad this
year -- or actually I have seen headlines but have not read the articles.
It seems odd  - actually kinda tacky - to me but I can't imagine how it
would be constitutional to restrict it.

On Fri, Jul 27, 2012 at 9:40 AM, Samuel Bagenstos <sbagen at gmail.com> wrote:

> Given the recent track record of this list, I hesitate even to ask this
> question.  But I do think the answer is within the collective knowledge of
> listmembers, and I am genuinely curious.  I thought it was unusual when
> Barack Obama travelled abroad for a campaign swing as a nonincumbent
> presidential candidate in 2008.  Was there any precedent for that trip?  Is
> this something that presidential candidates have always or often done?
>  Similarly, it seems to me interesting that Mitt Romney is using his trip
> abroad to host fundraisers in other countries.  Is that something that
> Barack Obama or other presidential candidates have done?  I assume there is
> no legal restriction on holding a fundraiser on foreign soil.  Is that
> right?  Do my fellow listmembers believe such a restriction would be
> unconstitutional?  (Not a restriction on expats giving money to US
> elections, which I think would be clearly unconstitutional, but a
> restriction on holding fundraising events on foreign soil.)  These are
> serious questions, and I am honestly interested in the factual and legal
> answers.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>  Samuel R. Bagenstos
> Professor of Law
> University of Michigan Law School
> 625 S. State St.
> Ann Arbor, MI  48109
> sambagen at umich.edu
> http://web.law.umich.edu/_FacultyBioPage/facultybiopagenew.asp?ID=411
> http://disabilitylaw.blogspot.com/
> Twitter: @sbagen
>
>
>
>
>
>
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