Political journalist Brad Cook attended Americans for Campaign Reform's Evening to Honor Senator Rudman and his coverage in New Hampshire Business Review perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the night:

The dinner pointed out several things....the affection for Rudman and the fact that his former staff members came from all over the country to honor him was testimony to his personality, effectiveness and legacy.

But the most important lesson of the evening was that bipartisanship, addressing problems in a cooperative way, is the only way government is going to be able to solve problems.

Mr. Cook also explains that Americans for Campaign Reform's co-chairs, "four distinguished Americans", "recognize the need to change the method by which campaigns are financed, for several reasons."

First, to a large extent only the rich can participate in politics as candidates for major office. Second, the effect of money in politics retards the ability to solve problems because of the influence of major givers and lobbyists. Third, there is a need to level the political playing field.

In his remarks, Rudman pointed out the need to solve America’s big problems. He indicated that he had come to believe that money in politics was a pervasive evil that had to be solved by some effective method of campaign finance reform, or basic issues will not be addressed.