Recounts, debt and litigation: Here’s why Donald Trump keeps asking for your money even while the votes are still being counted
Trump #Trump
The Trump text message — one of several today — is equal parts urgent and nonsensical.
“We’re handing Pres Trump the FINAL 2020 Election Day Donor List in 1 HOUR. Make sure your name is at the TOP. Donate NOW & receive a 1000%-MATCH,” President Donald Trump’s campaign wrote supporters around 4 p.m.
Trump tonight almost certainly isn’t scanning names of strangers. And these fundraising matching gimmicks are nonsense — nobody is really matching your money, and even if someone was, they’d almost assuredly run afoul of federal campaign contribution limits of $2,800 per candidate, per election.
But so long as there’s still time left in Election 2020, there’s still political money for Trump’s campaign to make by almost any means possible.
Why? Because Trump may desperately need it in the days, weeks, and even months to come.
“While campaigning is usually finished by Election Day, the costs associated with a campaign may not be,” said Nick Penniman, founder and CEO of Issue One, a bipartisan political reform organization.
Among the reasons Trump might need more money:
By Tuesday evening, Trump’s solicitation grew increasingly shrill.
“We’re $12K SHORT! We need you, friend. Last chance to stand with me. Just 3 HOURS LEFT. Donate NOW & it will be 6X-MATCHED,” another text message read.
“This is our chance to remind the Radical Left that THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY, NOT THEIRS. Don’t let me down … Contribute ANY AMOUNT IMMEDIATELY to stand with me and to go down in history as a 2020 Election Day Donor,” a 9 p.m. hour Trump campaign email shouted.
During the 10 p.m. hour, Vice President Mike Pence emailed: “President Trump is calling on YOU to step up and make sure we have the resources to WIN BIG.”
After 11 p.m., Trump emailed that “Democrats cannot stand that MILLIONS of Americans from all over the Nation are voting for yours truly, all the while REJECTING their SOCIALIST candidate … Contribute $5 IMMEDIATELY to FIGHT BACK and DEFEND your President from the Radical Left.”
Twenty minutes later, Trump texted: “This is the most important Election in American history. Our Country’s future is in YOUR hands. Claim FINAL 1000%-MATCH. We must defeat the Radical Left, Fake News, DC Swamp & Deep State. I’m choosing YOU, to claim the FINAL 1000%-MATCH. Donate”
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who entered the election homestretch with decidedly more stable finances, also continued to pepper supporters with fundraising solicitations Tuesday.
“We need to raise another $2.5 million before the polls close tonight. Please — can you rush $25 now?” the Biden campaign emailed during the 6 p.m. hour. “Will you pitch in one last time to fuel this fight through to the very end?”
Another Biden email asserted: “Your first $25 right now will make sure we hit that goal, and we’ll use it immediately to boost Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to a decisive victory tonight. Don’t wake up tomorrow with any regrets.”
Don’t be surprised if congressional candidates follow the presidential candidates’ leads and also continue squeezing supporters for money this week.
“There’s always another race, and given our political environment, if you’re in the House, you’re always running for reelection,” noted Cooper Teboe, a Democratic Party fundraiser.