Candidate Fundraiser Ideas

Article By Writer Jaime Andrade Author: Jaime Andrade
Published: October 1, 2007
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Found this nice collection of gimmicks and approaches to getting a boost in donations for the Election Candidates. The main theme seems to be the “spend a day with me” approach, which seems a bit assuming to me. We live in a time of selling the face and perhaps not the issues.

Hillary Clinton: Plays the food and Bill card again. Donate and have a chance to be one of three chosen to watch a debate with Bill Clinton while eating chips (though Hill wants you to make sure Bill eats carrots instead).

John Edwards: Will choose five winners to take to New Orleans for a day of rebuilding. One of the few to mention a way to enter without contributing.

Barack Obama: Although the originator of the “let’s eat” contest, Obama opts for something different this quarter. This time it is “Match” where your donation is matched by someone else and then the two send emails to each other. So far close to 500,000 donations (not dollars, but actual donations) have been made.

Bill Richardson: He’s not running a contest, but does have an odd match-program of his own going. He’s says his most dedicated supporters have offered to match every donation he receives in this push. Yet, if they were already his most dedicated, wouldn’t they have already reached the federal limit on giving ($2,300 for the primaries)?

Chris Dodd: Isn’t running a contest, but takes a shot at all the food ones Clinton has run.

Fred Thompson: Has a contest where whichever town has the most donations per capita will win a visit from Thompson. All who donated will get to meet him. Currently, Lookout Mountain, TN (pop. 2,000) is winning.

John McCain: Besides a free fleece jacket with a contribution of $200, McCain is offering three winners a chance to ride the Straight Talk Express.

Mitt Romney: Takes a page from McCain’s book and offers a contest to ride along with Mitt on the campaign trail. Three winners will be selected, with the criteria being a 100-word essay. Although a $100 contribution is suggested, it doesn’t seem to be pushed.

Ron Paul: Has run contests before in the third quarter, but for the final days opted for something unique in the secretive world of campaign donations — a real time accounting of how he hopes to add $500K in the final seven days. However, he was so successful in reaching that goal he has upped it to a million. As of 5:48 Friday evening, he has raised $769,545.43. UPDATE: He hit 1.2 million in a week.

Mike Huckabee: Isn’t running a contest, but did launch something called “Vertical Day” this week.

Thanks to DullardMush for compiling this summary.

How each candidate n the presidential election is trying to get more 3rd quarter donations and 3rd quarter figures