Republican presidential candidates seek ways to increase their number of donors

Logo of the Republican National Committee of the United States

Some candidates have come up with innovative ways to increase their donor base and ensure they can participate in their party's primary debates.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum said he would give away $20 Mastercards or Visa gift cards to people who donate as little as $1 to his campaign. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez offered donors the chance to watch Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi debut for Inter Miami.

The AP news agency (USA) reported on July 17 that these unique invitations stem from the Republican National Committee's requirement that candidates participating in the August 23 debate in Milwaukee must attract at least 40,000 donors from across the country.

This is considered a difficult task for some candidates who are not as well-known as former President Donald Trump or Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Participating in debates is an opportunity for candidates to appear in the media to share their messages and reach voters.

As a result, unorthodox fundraising tactics are becoming more common, said Dan Weiner, an attorney at the Brennan Center for Election Fairness and Government Programs. Candidates are experimenting with new methods, he said, and they understand that the Federal Election Commission can take action if there are legal or ethical concerns.

Another candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy, has introduced a scheme called the “Vivek Kitchen Cabinet” that allows supporters to keep 10% of their contributions. As of July 11, Ramaswamy’s campaign said more than 1,000 people had signed up for the “Vivek Kitchen Cabinet” scheme.

Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy at an event on July 14.

Candidate Perry Johnson, a wealthy Michigan businessman, announced in June that he would give away copies of his book “Two Cents to Save America,” which has a cover price of $20, to anyone who donated to his campaign.

During a speech in Florida on July 16, Suarez asked attendees to “consider donating $1” so he could participate in the debate. He also emphasized that all donors would have the opportunity to sit in the front row of Messi’s first game for Inter Miami on July 21.

In addition to reaching a certain number of donors, Republican candidates must meet a number of other requirements to participate in the first debate. They must achieve at least 1% in three national polls, or two national polls and one poll in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada, held between July 1 and August 21.

In addition, they must sign a pledge to support the Republican candidate in the 2024 White House race. They must also agree to not participate in debates outside the Republican National Committee for the remainder of the election cycle.

According to Tin Tuc Newspaper