Donald Trump received nearly $4 million in unsolicited campaign donations
Donald Trump received nearly $4 million in unsolicited campaign donations
By Jenna Johnson and Anu Narayanswamy October 15 at 7:59 PM
This post has been updated.
Although Donald Trump boasts he is self-financing his presidential campaign, he hasn't turned away donations from supporters -- and those contributions added up to nearly $4 million in three months.
Between July 1 and Sept. 30, Trump's campaign says it received 73,942 unsolicited donations, pumping $3.8 million into his campaign coffers. The average contribution was about $50, and 71 percent of the money came from donors giving less than $200. Trump contributed $100,779 to his campaign during that time, although he adds that he has spent $1,909,576 of his own money since launching the campaign in June.
According to federal paperwork filed Thursday, Trump's campaign spent $4,035,076.35 between July 1 and Sept. 30. So far it has spent a total of $5,449,750. The campaign is spending money as quickly as it receives it, and the campaign reports having had $254,772 on hand as of Sept. 30.
[Voters are mad about mega-donors -- and that's helping Trump]
Trump likes to point out that he has spent far less than many of his Republican rivals yet still managed to dominate early polls for several months.
"While our original budget was substantially higher than the amount spent, good business practices and even better ideas and policy have made it unnecessary to have spent a larger sum," Trump said in a statement on Thursday evening. "To be number one in every poll, both state and national, and to have spent the least amount of dollars of any serious candidate is a testament to what I can do for America."
But Trump's paperwork reveals that he has constructed a massive network to support his campaign. The report lists more than 50 consulting firms or individuals being paid by the campaign -- nearly all of whom are labeled as being a consultant of some sort. He has hired an "event staging consulting" group and several individuals who provide "administrative consulting." Trump labels his lead spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, as providing “communications consulting.” Although Trump presents himself as an independent operator who comes up with his own policy ideas and doesn't pay attention to expert opinions, he has hired a number of strategy or policy consultants. Most of those working on the campaign are based in or near New York, the campaign’s home, or in one of the three early-voting states: Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
While other campaigns have been sinking money into television ads, direct mail and other traditional ways to reach voters, Trump's biggest expenses thus far appear to be the renting out large venues to host elaborate events that attract thousands and campaign swag. The campaign has thus far spent more than $800,000 on T-shirts, hats and other campaign-branded items.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...aborative_2_na
Donald Trump Accidentally Raised Almost As Much As Rubio
by Mike Flynn
16 Oct 2015
536 comments
Donald Trump’s campaign collected $4 million in the third quarter, roughly the same as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). The real difference, though, is that Trump’s campaign hasn’t conducted any fundraising efforts.
Almost all of that $4 million total is from “unsolicited” donations. People simply sent his campaign money without being asked for it.
Few stats better explain the topsy-turvy nature of this political season than that fact. Trump has repeatedly said that he wouldn’t be actively seeking donations from supporters to fuel his campaign. He has often implied that he is willing to spend money from his considerable personal fortune, but, to date, hasn’t had to open his checkbook very wide.
Donald Trump contributed $100,000 to the campaign in the third quarter. The more interesting fact, though, is that almost 75,000 people also sent his campaign money, with an average contribution of $50, without any fundraising outreach, solicitation, or even obvious way to do so.
The result is that Trump, without trying, raised far more than Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and was largely in-line with major challengers Rubio and businesswomen Carly Fiorina.
Trump has obviously altered the political landscape by maintaining a strong polling lead for over three months with very little campaign spending. He has not spent any money on advertising while others, especially Jeb Bush, have spent millions.
He also doesn’t seem to have spent a great deal on building a campaign organization, although that is likely to change in the coming weeks as voting gets near.
All other candidates for the GOP nomination have large campaign infrastructures. According to the most recent FEC filing, Jeb Bush’s campaign was spending more than $3.5 million each month during the Summer.
Donald Trump has spent the least amount of any of the major candidates. Through the entire campaign so far, Trump has spent just over $5 million total. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who lead some polls in the spring, spent over $7 million in his aborted 71-day campaign.
“While our original budget was substantially higher than the amount spent, good business practices and even better ideas and policy have made it unnecessary to have spent a larger sum,” Trump said in a release.
“To be number one in every poll, both state and national, and to have spent the least amount of dollars of any serious candidate is a testament to what I can do for America,” Trump continued. “This is what our country’s leaders should do for the United States— spend money wisely and win!”
How a candidate conducts their campaign, and spends their resources, says far more about them then statements on the stump.
Walker’s campaign arrogantly got far ahead of its actual support. Jeb has relied on family connections to fuel a very large and expensive organization. Rubio’s impressive turns on the debate stage has so far failed to ignite enthusiasm with voters. Cruz has stuck to a steady, consistent path that has turned in impressive fundraising numbers.
Whatever happens in the nomination fight, Trump has broken new ground in this political campaign. His support, though, may be even deeper and more enthusiastic than the polls suggest. If his campaign can raise $4 million without asking anyone for money, the mind reels to consider what he would raise if he did.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...st-much-rubio/
