The California Democratic Party spent $3 million on GOTV this election cycle, but on Election Day wrote a $4 million check to state Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez.

If the check had been written a day later, it would have been illegal. And if it had been written a day earlier, it could have resulted in negative press that would make the Democratic Party look hypocritical for campaigning against the GOP Culture of Corruption. Hence the odd timing of the check that makes no sense.

To-date, most of the discussion about the money has focused upon whether it was proper. I would prefer to focus on whether the transaction was strategic. Below I offer various other scenarios laying out rough budgets for how the CDP could have invested the $4 million dollars.