Sign in

Brendan J. Doherty

@brendanjdoherty.bsky.social
190 followers 149 following 90 posts

Political science professor at US Naval Academy || Latest book: Fundraiser in Chief: Presidents & the Politics of Campaign Cash || Views are my own, not DoD's

PostsRepliesMedia
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 11/10/2024
A deadlocked FEC vote has opened the path for parties to buy campaign ads at lower rates, potentially shifting the fundraising balance of power in Senate races. @politico.com story: www.politico.com/news/2024/10...
politico.com
Senate Republicans to save millions of dollars on ads — thanks to the FEC
A paralyzed FEC won’t block Republicans from using a new strategy that allows them to run TV ads for their candidates at a fraction of the cost.
100
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 02/10/2024
The NRSC is shifting its ad buys from independent expenditures to hybrid ads. Why? The law requires candidates to be offered the "lowest unit rate" for TV and radio ads close to an election, while parties pay higher rates for independent expenditures. www.politico.com/news/2024/10...
politico.com
Senate Republicans make sudden change in ad strategy amid cash crunch
The NRSC is canceling its independent ad reservations and redirecting it to hybrid ads, made with the candidates.
001
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 23/09/2024
VP Harris raised $27 million at a Wall Street fundraiser on Sunday, her biggest yield from a single fundraising event apnews.com/article/kama...
apnews.com
Harris raises $27 million in New York fundraiser, promises economic speech this week
Vice President Kamala Harris raised $27 million at a packed New York City fundraiser on Sunday. That's according to a Harris campaign aide who said it's the largest fundraising haul since Harris took ...
011
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 13/09/2024
The latest eye-popping fundraising numbers in the 2024 presidential race: www.cnbc.com/2024/09/12/h...
cnbc.com
Harris raises $47 million in 24 hours after Trump debate
Vice President Kamala Harris raised $47 million from 600,000 donors in the first full day after her commanding debate performance against Donald Trump.
010
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 26/08/2024
The latest fundraising record to fall -- since the start of her campaign, VP Harris has raised an unprecedented $540 million for her joint fundraising committee benefitting her campaign, the DNC, and every Democratic state party. www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
pbs.org
Harris has raised $540 million and saw a surge of donations during DNC, campaign says
“Just before Vice President Harris’ acceptance speech Thursday night, we officially crossed the $500 million mark," campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon wrote in a memo released by the campaign on Sunda...
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 21/08/2024
Bundlers are the fundraisers who gather big contributions from other donors. This year, neither presidential campaign is disclosing their names. www.nytimes.com/2024/08/20/u...
nytimes.com
Harris and Trump Shield Their Big Campaign Fund-Raisers From the Public
Political campaigns are not required to disclose the names of their fund-raising “bundlers,” but many presidential candidates have done so in recent years.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 21/08/2024
Presidential candidates spend so much time raising money for their campaign committee in increments of $3,300 per election or less since they never know when a megadonor like Mellon will write a $50 million check to a Super PAC www.politico.com/news/2024/08...
politico.com
GOP megadonor Tim Mellon gives another $50M to boost Trump
Timothy Mellon has now given $115 million this cycle to the group.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 14/08/2024
Super PACs have been performing more core campaign functions in this race for the White House than in past election cycles. The latest example: www.nytimes.com/2024/08/14/u...
nytimes.com
Trump Gambles on Outside Groups to Finance Voter Outreach Efforts
New federal rules allow political candidates to coordinate their efforts to canvass for votes with outside groups like super PACs.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 02/08/2024
👀 Raised in July: Harris campaign + Dem committees: $310 million Trump campaign + GOP committees: $138.7 million Cash on hand: Harris: $377 million Trump: $327 million Harris: 2/3 of July $ from 1st-time donors; 94% of donations < $200 www.axios.com/2024/08/02/h...
axios.com
Harris raises twice as much as Trump in July
Harris' campaign generated a jolt of enthusiasm — and influx of donations.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 31/07/2024
Fascinating tea leaf about Harris's VP pick: Axios's Hans Nichols reports that "The Harris campaign is pressing Wall Street donors to cut their checks as soon as possible, citing a financial rule that bars contributions to tickets featuring a sitting governor." www.axios.com/newsletters/...
axios.com
Axios AM
010
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 30/07/2024
While Super PACs must be technically independent of campaigns, they are often run by close allies of the candidate they support. The latest example: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
washingtonpost.com
Biden adviser Anita Dunn leaving White House to help pro-Harris super PAC
The decision marks the first major exit from President Biden’s core team since he decided to step aside from the presidential race.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 30/07/2024
JD Vance joins the (well-populated) club of candidates who said something different behind closed doors at a fundraiser than what they said in public www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
washingtonpost.com
Vance tells donors Harris change was a ‘sucker punch,’ at odds with campaign
“The bad news is that Kamala Harris does not have the same baggage as Joe Biden,” Trump’s running mate acknowledged at a private event.
121
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 29/07/2024
Donors can only give $6,600 directly to a presidential campaign. But Timothy Mellon has given $75 million to support Trump, as well as $25 million aiding RFK Jr.'s third party bid. How? Party committees, joint fundraising committees, & Super PACs www.nytimes.com/2024/07/28/u...
nytimes.com
A Pedigreed Rail Magnate Is Pouring Millions Into Electing Donald Trump
Timothy Mellon, a reclusive heir to a storied fortune, is spending tens of millions to elect Donald J. Trump. Precisely what he wants in return is one of many curiosities surrounding him.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 29/07/2024
A Super PAC spent $827,000 on Trump's legal expenses in June. Much less than the average of $4 million per month spent on his legal bills for the past two years. Since 2022 it has spent $83 million of donor money to pay Trump's lawyers, the AP reports. apnews.com/article/elec...
apnews.com
With trials pushed back, Trump sees first big dip in legal bills
As former President Donald Trump faces a supercharged Democratic fundraising effort, a persistent drag on his campaign’s coffers may be easing: legal expenses.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 26/07/2024
How have Dem fundraising dynamics changed since Biden stepped aside? Teddy Schleifer has an inside look at how the Harris campaign is ramping up its fundraising operation and thinking about how to allocate the VP's scarce time www.nytimes.com/2024/07/25/u...
nytimes.com
Kamala Harris’s Fund-Raising Machine Cranks Into High Gear
Given weeks instead of years to cultivate donors, the vice president’s allies are armed with a new logo and burning up the phones.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 26/07/2024
While Harris's early fundraising has set records, it takes time to make and execute a plan to spend that money on campaign ads. Republicans are filling that vacuum for now, outspending Democrats by a 25:1 ratio on TV and radio ads, the AP reports apnews.com/article/adve...
apnews.com
The fight to define Harris is on. And for now, Republicans are dominating Democrats on the airwaves
Kamala Harris is already facing a wave of Republican-backed attack ads questioning her leadership, her progressive record and what she knew about President Joe Biden’s decline.
100
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 26/07/2024
Super PACs are supposed to be independent of candidates, but many function as a de facto extension of a candidate's campaign committee. Here's an interesting counterexample of a pro-Haley Super PAC endorsing Harris against Haley's wishes www.cbsnews.com/news/haley-v...
cbsnews.com
"Haley voters for Harris" group gets cease and desist request from Nikki Haley
The group says they're reviewing the request, but that their effort to engage with Haley voters "will not be suppressed."
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
Can Vice President Harris use the $96 million in the Biden-Harris reelection campaign account? Probably, but she’s likely to face legal challenges. A thread 🧵 1/x
100
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 15/07/2024
My data on presidential travel were featured in this Axios story about how Biden's reelection year trips compare to his predecessors' travels www.axios.com/2024/07/07/b...
axios.com
Biden goes light on election-year campaign travel
Biden's flight logs from the first half of 2024 reveal a president with about three-quarters of ex-President Obama's travel during his re-election year in 2012.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 27/06/2024
Biden's online donations surged after Trump's conviction www.politico.com/news/2024/06...
politico.com
Biden quietly had his biggest online fundraising day after Trump was convicted
The surge is particularly notable because Trump seized upon his conviction for fundraising purposes — but Biden didn’t.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 26/06/2024
While the most an individual can give to a candidate's campaign is $3,300 per election, the web of national & state party committees, Super PACs, & other similar groups make it possible for someone to donate $20 million to support a presidential candidate www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
washingtonpost.com
Mike Bloomberg gives $20 million to help Biden beat Trump
The former New York mayor, who received a Presidential Medal of Freedom last month, has been one of the biggest Democratic donors in recent years.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 26/06/2024
Another day in the 2024 campaign, another new Super PAC! www.nytimes.com/2024/06/26/u...
nytimes.com
New Pro-Trump Super PAC Quietly Spends Millions on G.O.P. Ground Game
The group, America PAC, is preparing what appears to be a well-funded push to encourage Republican-leaning voters to cast early or absentee ballots.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 22/06/2024
Trump campaign reportedly planning key fundraising role for VP pick. VP nominees often devote much time to raising campaign cash. Story by @axios.com's Sophia Cai www.axios.com/2024/06/21/t...
axios.com
Scoop: Trump has big fundraising plans for VP
Whoever Trump picks, raising cash will be one of the would-be VP's top assignments for the rest of the campaign.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 22/06/2024
Trump's fundraising is narrowing Biden's financial edge. Media attributing this to post-conviction fundraising surge, but Biden saw similar dynamics four years ago once he became the presumptive nominee. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
washingtonpost.com
Trump’s conviction fueled donation surge that could reshape contest
The Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and an allied super PAC raised more than $170 million in May, including tens of millions that came in after Trump’s May 30 conviction.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 19/06/2024
Biden's third multi-president reelection fundraiser brought in $8+ million. Event was headlined by Bill and Hillary Clinton and hosted by Terry McAuliffe. www.reuters.com/world/us/bid...
reuters.com
Biden, Clintons raise over $8 million at fundraiser in critical Virginia
U.S. President Joe Biden's re-election effort raised $8.1 million at a fundraiser n Virginia.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 17/06/2024
Hollywood stars help Biden set a Democratic record with $30+ million raised at LA fundraiser. apnews.com/article/bide...
apnews.com
Clooney and Roberts help Biden raise $30 million-plus at a star-studded Hollywood gala
Some of Hollywood’s brightest stars headlined a glitzy fundraiser for President Joe Biden on Saturday night.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 14/06/2024
Biden and Trump campaigns both held fundraisers in London -- donors are required by law to be US citizens, but there are plenty of American expats both campaigns can solicit for donations in London www.cnn.com/2024/06/13/p...
cnn.com
Biden and Trump hold dueling London fundraisers as campaign cash race intensifies | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden and former President Trump held competing fundraisers in London on Wednesday, sources told CNN, amid an intensifying race for campaign cash and signs that the former president is g...
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 12/06/2024
Book review! An “impressive book.... Two strong features of Doherty’s work are his doggedly persistent research, and his ability to convey his findings in a compact, powerful narrative. The author’s detective work on presidential fundraisers is remarkable." Thanks @graniteprof.bsky.social
020
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 06/06/2024
How does Trump use political funds to pay his legal bills? Here's a helpful explainer www.cnn.com/2024/06/05/p...
cnn.com
Analysis: How are Trump’s legal bills and the 2024 campaigns being funded? There’s a lot we don’t know | CNN Politics
The way American campaigns are financed can be impenetrable even to people who pay close attention to politics.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 06/06/2024
Officials reportedly worried that George Clooney would pull out of fundraiser with Biden in wake of POTUS's criticism of the Intl Criminal Court's call for charges against Israeli leaders. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
washingtonpost.com
George Clooney called White House to defend wife’s work on Israel warrants
Biden had sharply criticized a move by the International Criminal Court to issue warrants for Israeli leaders
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 06/06/2024
Trump will raise $12 million tonight at a San Francisco fundraiser, a sign of inroads with Silicon Valley donors. Tickets range from $50,000 to $300,000 per person www.nytimes.com/2024/06/06/u...
nytimes.com
‘It’s Not 2016 Anymore’: Trump Finds Friends in Silicon Valley
Donald Trump is heading to San Francisco for a fund-raiser, and his host, the tech entrepreneur David Sacks, hopes to portray Silicon Valley as a more MAGA-welcoming place.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 06/06/2024
Politico: "Tim Scott-aligned PAC promises to spend $14 million on outreach to voters of color" www.politico.com/news/2024/06...
politico.com
Tim Scott-aligned PAC promises to spend $14 million on outreach to voters of color
The former presidential candidate is promising a monumental shift in voting behavior — and some are skeptical he can deliver.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 05/06/2024
Both Democrats and Republicans have seen substantial declines in small-dollar contributions so far this election cycle www.notus.org/2024-electio...
notus.org
How a Drop in Small-Dollar Donations Is Shaking Up Both Parties
“We have squeezed every last penny in a period of time when the pennies are harder to come by,” a GOP digital strategist said.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 05/06/2024
Groups supporting Biden plan $50 million summer advertising campaign in six key battleground states www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
washingtonpost.com
Biden allies put up another $50 million early summer swing state ads
Climate Power and Future Forward USA Action announced a two-month campaign in six states.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 05/06/2024
Pro-Trump Super PAC announces that it raised $70 million in May www.nytimes.com/2024/06/05/u...
nytimes.com
Trump Super PAC Says It Took In Nearly $70 Million in May
In a memo for donors obtained by The New York Times, the group also said it viewed Pennsylvania as critical to the Trump campaign’s success in November.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 04/06/2024
What do donors do when they want to support a candidate in secret? They give to a dark money group that doesn't have to disclose its donors, and a new one is running ads in Pennsylvania that attack Biden www.politico.com/news/2024/05...
politico.com
There’s a new dark money group supporting Trump
The group is one of several Donald Trump is relying on to help overcome Joe Biden’s financial advantage.
011
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 04/06/2024
When presidents of both parties fundraise, they're often criticized for doing so at the expense of governing. The latest example: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
dailymail.co.uk
Biden snubs Zelensky peace summit for George Clooney fundraiser
The White House announced Monday that President Joe Biden would not attend a 'peace summit' scheduled in Switzerland with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 31/05/2024
New reporting on Trump's recent meeting with oil industry donors: "Trump suggests to oil donors he will fast-track their merger deals" www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/...
washingtonpost.com
Trump suggests to oil donors he will fast-track their merger deals
The ex-president’s pledge to the fossil fuel industry is the latest to emerge from a closed-door fundraising meeting.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 31/05/2024
DeSantis to fundraise for pro-Trump Super PAC www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...
nbcnews.com
Ron DeSantis hopes to raise at least $10M to boost Trump
The money will be raised during a multistate fundraising swing starting this summer.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 31/05/2024
Trump plans aggressive fundraising schedule in wake of his conviction in his Manhattan criminal trial www.cnbc.com/2024/05/30/t...
cnbc.com
Trump embarks on a fundraising juggernaut after his conviction on 34 felony counts
Now that his trial is over, Donald Trump is ready to crisscross the country raising money for his cash-strapped campaign.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 30/05/2024
Some formerly skeptical billionaires are now supporting Trump in 2024, reports @axios www.axios.com/2024/05/30/t...
axios.com
Billionaire donors rally back to Trump
Biden's fundraising edge is shrinking.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 30/05/2024
"GOP mega-donor Miriam Adelson to fund colossal super PAC for Trump," perhaps more than the $90 million her late husband contributed four years ago. www.politico.com/news/2024/05...
politico.com
GOP mega-donor Miriam Adelson to fund colossal super PAC for Trump
The casino billionaire is planning to back the newly reconstituted Preserve America effort to help the former president.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 30/05/2024
Important Washington Post story detailing how the Biden team is outspending Trump by close to a 3-to-1 ratio, and assessing the state of the race www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
washingtonpost.com
Little change in a presidential campaign most Americans don’t want
A looming verdict in Trump’s hush-money trial may give Biden another chance to drive his message, but neither campaign expects much chance of a reset before fall.
001
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 28/05/2024
Washington Post: "Trump makes sweeping promises to donors on audacious fundraising tour" www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
washingtonpost.com
Trump makes sweeping promises to donors on audacious fundraising tour
By tying donation requests to pledges of tax cuts and other policies, Trump is testing the boundaries of federal campaign finance laws.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 28/05/2024
Bill and Hillary Clinton, Terry McAuliffe to headline Virginia "mega fundraiser" for Biden in June www.axios.com/2024/05/27/b...
axios.com
Bill and Hillary Clinton to headline D.C.-area fundraiser for Biden
The event is designed to hoover up big-dollars contributions in the D.C. area.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 25/05/2024
Grateful for and proud of the 1,040 Naval Academy midshipmen who swore an oath to the Constitution yesterday and were commissioned as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps. Here's to the class of 2024!!
010
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 23/05/2024
Washington Post reports that while at a fundraising event in Houston that raised more than $25 million, "Trump just made more promises to oil industry campaign donors" www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
washingtonpost.com
Trump just made more promises to oil industry campaign donors
The pledges to oil executives came a day before Senate Democrats launched a probe of Trump seeking $1 billion in donations from the oil industry.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 23/05/2024
Biden's 2 fundraisers in Boston on Tuesday brought in more than $6 million for the Biden Victory Fund, his campaign's joint fundraising committee with the DNC and all 50 state Democratic parties www.politico.com/newsletters/...
politico.com
Inside Biden’s Bay State swing
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 21/05/2024
Trump campaign & RNC outraised Biden campaign & DNC in April. Was the first full month Trump fundraised jointly with GOP party committees--he could ask donors for bigger checks than before he was the presumptive nominee. Much impt info from Axios: www.axios.com/2024/05/21/b...
axios.com
Trump closing gap on Biden's fundraising advantage
The Biden campaign ended the month with $192 million in cash on hand.
000
Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 20/05/2024
Pres. Obama, Jimmy Kimmel, George Clooney, Julia Roberts to fundraise with Pres. Biden in LA in June www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politic...
hollywoodreporter.com
Jimmy Kimmel Set to Moderate Conversation With Joe Biden and Barack Obama Next Month
The event will also feature George Clooney and Julia Roberts.
000