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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

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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.
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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.
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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 ...
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 30/07/2024
In 2019, Biden's campaign opened his fundraisers to the press, Politico reported, to put Biden "on notice that his remarks will be public." One donor said “He understands: too many phones, too many recordings” that could end up on social media www.politico.com/story/2019/0...
politico.com
Biden opens big-donor fundraisers to press
By offering the media access to private fundraisers, his campaign is nodding to transparency — and putting the former veep on notice that anything he says will be public.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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."
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
Harris will raise much money on her own, but will fight for the funds she raised jointly with Biden. Candidates receive preferential ad rates & want as much controllable money as possible to spread their message about their vision of the more perfect union 15/15
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
The Washington Post reports that Harris’s campaign and Democratic party committees raised more than $100 million in the first 41 hours after Biden made his announcement. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202... 14/x
washingtonpost.com
Historic flood of cash pours into Harris campaign and allied groups
Democrats reported raising more than $250 million since Biden announced he was leaving the presidential race and endorsed Harris.
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
We are in uncharted waters. Harris has already asserted control over the $96 million in the Biden-Harris campaign account, and while a potential lawsuit might try to block her access to those funds, she’ll likely be able to use them. 13/x
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
Example: this 3-3 tie vote from 2022 on a complaint alleging that the 2020 Trump campaign had illegally avoided spending disclosure requirements apnews.com/article/2022... 12/x
apnews.com
Federal Election Commission deadlocks, won't punish Trump
The Federal Election Commission has decided not to take action against former President Donald Trump after commissioners deadlocked over whether his campaign broke the law by masking how it was spendi...
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
Will the FEC settle this? With three commissioners from each party, they often deadlock on a 3-3 vote and rulings frequently come years after the fact 11/x
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
Another FEC Commissioner, Ellen Weintraub, contends that because Harris was a named candidate as part of the Biden-Harris reelection committee, she has a clear claim to the $96 million in the campaign account even if Biden doesn't run www.npr.org/2024/07/23/g... 10/x
npr.org
Can Harris — or any other Democrat — access Biden campaign money?
Vice President Harris likely has a strong claim to the funds, but not all legal experts agree. Moreover, the Federal Election Commission works too slowly to make much of an impact on the race.
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
"11 C.F.R. § 110.1(b)(3): 'If the candidate is not a candidate in the general election, all contributions made for the general election shall be either returned or refunded to the contributors or redesignated ..., or reattributed..., as appropriate.'" x.com/SeanJCooksey... 9/x
x.com
x.com
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
So is that the end of the story? Federal Election Commission Chair Sean Cooksey suggested not when he tweeted a section from federal regulations about what happens when a candidate raises money for the general election but does not run in the fall: 8/x
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
Back to 2024…. Just hours after Biden endorsed her, Harris filed paperwork to: 1) Change the name of their reelection committee to Harris for President and 2) Rename the Biden Victory Fund joint fundraising committee as the Harris Victory Fund docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/form... 7/x
docquery.fec.gov
Form 1 for Harris for President FEC Form 1 for Harris for PresidentForm 1 for Harris for President
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
Similarly, Biden was a named candidate as VP as part of Obama’s reelection committee in 2011, As was VP Dick Cheney as part of George W. Bush’s reelection committee in 2003 docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/form... docquery.fec.gov/pdf/753/2303... 6/x
docquery.fec.gov
Form 1 for Obama for America FEC Form 1 for Obama for AmericaForm 1 for Obama for America
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
This is not unusual – VP Mike Pence was a named candidate along with Trump on his reelection campaign committee in this 2019 FEC filing, over a year before they were renominated at the 2020 convention: docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/form... 5/x
docquery.fec.gov
FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1335528 FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1335528FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1335528
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
Can Harris access the $96 million in the Biden-Harris campaign account? She has been a named candidate along with Biden as part of the reelection committee since it was established in April 2023: docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/form... 4/x
docquery.fec.gov
Form 1 for Biden for President FEC Form 1 for Biden for PresidentForm 1 for Biden for President
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
A donor can only give $6,600 to the campaign itself: $3,300 for campaigning before the convention, and $3,300 for the general election So most of the money from high dollar fundraising events went to the party committees. Example: apnews.com/article/bide... 3/x
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.
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 24/07/2024
Much of Biden’s reelection fundraising was done through the Biden Victory Fund joint fundraising committee, which benefited his reelection campaign, the DNC, and all 50 Dem state parties, plus the DC party docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/form... 2/x
docquery.fec.gov
Form 1 for Biden Victory Fund FEC Form 1 for Biden Victory FundForm 1 for Biden Victory Fund
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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...
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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