Anybody who has donated online to a candidate this political season has become used to seeing eligibility requirements for donating. Some of these are mandated by federal law, but some provisions include room for discretion. One is the age a candidate requires contributors to be.

I note the difference in the following candidates' approach just as food for thought.

Over at Senator Clinton's  Senate reelection website the eligibility requirements are: (emphasis added)

1. This contribution is made from my own funds, and not those of another.
2. This contribution is not made from the general treasury funds of a corporation, labor organization or national bank.
3. I am not a Federal government contractor.
4. I am not a foreign national who lacks permanent resident status in the United States.
5. I am at least 18 years of age.
6. This contribution is made on a personal credit or debit card for which I have the legal obligation to pay, and is made neither on a corporate or business entity card nor on the card of another.

At Senator Obama's Presidential election website this is how the eligibility requirements appear: (empahsis added)

1. I am a United States citizen or a lawfully-admitted permanent resident.
2. I am at least 16 years old.
3. This contribution is not made from the general treasury funds of a corporation, labor organization or national bank.
4. This contribution is not made from the funds of a political action committee.
5. This contribution is not made from the treasury of an entity or person who is a federal contractor.
6. This contribution is not made from the funds of an individual registered as a federal lobbyist or a foreign agent, or an entity that is a federally registered lobbying firm or foreign agent.
7. The funds I am donating are not being provided to me by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution.

Because John McCain opted into public funding, he cannot accept private contributions for a general election campaign but he can accept funds for "compliance expenses" (to defray legal and accounting compliance costs and  thereby preserve the Campaign's public grant for media, mail, phones, and get-out-the-vote programs.) At the McCain compliance fund, these are the eligibility requirements:

At Senator Clinton's debt relief site: (emphasis added)

1. I designate this contribution for 2008 primary election debt retirement.
2. This contribution is made from my own funds, and not those of another.
3. This contribution is not made from the general treasury funds of a corporation, labor organization or national bank.
4. I am not a Federal government contractor.
5. I am not a foreign national who lacks permanent resident status in the United States.
6. I am at least 18 years of age.
7. This contribution is made on a personal credit or debit card for which I have the legal obligation to pay, and is made neither on a corporate or business entity card nor on the card of another.