In faxed letter, Campaign Money Watch and more than 10,000 of its members urge GOP candidates to end "deafening silence" on reining in big money by supporting public financing

Washington-Campaign Money Watch, a national nonprofit campaign reform watchdog group, urged the four remaining Republican candidates for president to support real efforts to change Washington, including comprehensive public financing of federal elections.

The letter, which was supported by more than 10,000 of the group's members, was faxed this morning to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA), former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR), and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX).

"Specifically, there is a deafening silence in the Republican primary on the need to overhaul our campaign finance laws to put voters in charge. In the past, you have advocated for a variety of solutions to this problem," the letter stated. "Your silence during the current race for the GOP nomination has left many to believe that political expediency has trumped principles when it comes to cleaning up big money in politics.

"Along with these 10,145 signers, I urge you to pledge to support comprehensive public financing of federal elections which will break the stranglehold that big campaign donors have on our political process and to restore hope that the voices of voters can be heard in the corridors of power," continued the letter, which was signed by Campaign Money Watch's director, David Donnelly.

Both Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), the remaining Democratic candidates, have stated their support for comprehensive public financing of federal elections, and have repeatedly mentioned their support in debates and in meetings with voters.

"Voters need to know whether the GOP candidates will stand up and take on big money in politics, or whether they'll refuse to bite the hands that fill their campaign coffers," said Donnelly.

Campaign Money Watch is an anti-corruption, pro-campaign reform voter education project of Public Campaign Action Fund. It led efforts to educate voters in dozens of electoral contests over the past six years, including former Majority Leader Tom DeLay's home district. To learn more, visit www.campaignmoney.org.