By the way,  nothing is obvious.  If a candidate cannot collect contributions,  he or she cannot run.  They cannot establish a campaign, hire people, pay travel expense.  These are candidates.  They need donations in order to be heard.  They receive donations from like minded people.  Donors like their message and their ability to convince people about their message.  That's not corruption,  that's reality.  That's not personal gain.  Don't criminalize normal political activity which includes, seminars, meetings, lunches, conventions, studies, expert testimony, and consensus.