system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How do politicians benefit from corporate money? Do they use it as personal income?

I know it goes to fund their campaigns, but I'm not sure if they can use it as personal money as well. If it only goes to their campaigns, why are they so influenced by corporate money if their positions' salaries aren't super high? Are there loopholes they use?
gpt
A politician can never use this money for his or her own personal use. If there is leftover campaign funding, it can be donated to a charity organization or the national party. It can also be held for future campaign use.

Politicians are influenced by corporations because campaigning can be very expensive - often an amount that the politician would never be able to afford personally. The salary of their position is irrelevant. Companies donate money to a candidate with the idea that he or she will act in their best interest.