The point of corporate campaign finance is not to persuade the existing officials. It is to select for officials who already support your views. They are morall

The point of corporate campaign finance is not to persuade the existing officials. It is to select for officials who already support your views. They are morally rightous crusaders on your behalf. The fact that lobbying access does in fact also bring influence is also true, of course, but don't confuse the two issues.