How the money interests keep the candidates in line: they quietly let them know there is support.  Happens on a local level as well as high levels.  I've certainly seen it at the local level.  

This short video clip - with a microphone accidently left on - is priceless.  New presidential candidate Rick Perry gets a support guarantee from the Bank of America.  James Fallows is all into how the banker is so casual and silky.  To me, it's cool that Rick Perry takes it as normal and is so subtle, hardly pausing in his slow shuffle through the crowd.   He is used to this.  And there is no need on his part to ask questions.  

Below the video in Fallows column, the BofA PR guy spins it as simply agreeing with the speech.  Yeah.  Right.  The LA police have a whole explanation for the video of the beating of Rodney King also.  

The fly in the ointment on the PR spin is that the Director of Public Policy deals with politicians.  This is probably not the first, or only, time Perry has been assured of BofA support.  It is good to remind a politician that you, as a supporter, have been in the audience of a gathering and that you are supporting the candidate, just to remind them who their daddy is.  Make sure they know you are following them. Give them your approval.  Do it often so they fully realize that, as a supporter, you are watching.  This BofA honcho's words also, in code, told Perry it was a good speech.   

This is enjoyable for political junkies as it is a small, short window into how the system works.  No paper trail.  Hell, BofA might put their money into a SuperPac and it will never be traced.