Clinton to unveil campaign finance reform plan

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton will propose a slate of campaign finance reform policies on Tuesday as part of her effort to capture liberal votes in the 2016 Democratic primary.

The measures she will propose include rules requiring greater disclosure of political spending and a program that would provide matching funds for small donations to presidential and congressional candidates.

Clinton also plans to call for overriding the Supreme Court's controversial 2010 Citizens United ruling, which allowed corporations and individuals to spend unlimited amounts for political advocacy through independent political action committees, as long as they do not coordinate with candidates.

Overturning or overriding the ruling would require new Supreme Court justices or amending the Constitution, according to Clinton's plans, and both options are fraught with uncertainty.

"We have to end the flood of secret, unaccountable money that is distorting our elections, corrupting our political system and drowning out the voices of too many everyday Americans," Clinton said in a statement issued by her campaign.

Although Clinton remains the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, she faces considerable pressure on her left from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a socialist who has made campaign finance reform a centerpiece of his candidacy. Early polling shows him within striking distance in the two earliest state contests, Iowa and New Hampshire.

Campaign finance reform has also received some attention in the Republican primary. During the first prime-time Republican presidential debate last month, current front-runner Donald Trump described the campaign finance system as "broken," citing his experience as a prominent donor to various politicians.

"I give to everybody. When they call, I give, and you know what? When I need something from them, two years, three years later, I call, they are there for me," he said.

At least one entrant in the race is dedicating his candidacy exclusively to the issue of campaign finance reform. Harvard law professor and campaign finance reform advocate Lawrence Lessig announced Sunday he would enter the Democratic primary and run on a platform solely committed to reforming the electoral process.

Al Jazeera and Reuters