Bernie's new approach to raising cash: 'Grass-roots fundraisers'

[brooklynite]

Politico

Bernie Sanders — who swore off big-money fundraisers and criticized Hillary Clinton’s fundraising as “obscene” during the 2016 campaign — is changing his approach as the scramble for Democratic campaign cash heats up.

The Vermont senator has decided to hold in-person fundraising events where donors of all means will be invited and the media will be allowed. He has also hired a fundraiser to oversee the effort, a position he did not have in his 2016 bid.

The moves, described by campaign sources to POLITICO, amount to an acknowledgment by Sanders that his online-only approach to raising money was leaving significant amounts of money on the table. That cash could be decisive in a primary with nearly two dozen candidates competing fiercely for money: Sanders’ top rival, Democratic front-runner Joe Biden, is raking in huge sums from major Democratic donors in the early weeks of the race with a slew of fundraisers.

The altered strategy is a sign that Sanders is running a different kind of campaign in 2020, shedding some of his resistance to a side of politics he’s instinctively repelled by.

[Eric J in MN]

1. The writers don't know exactly what will happen.

I hope that small donors and big donors will be treated the same.

[George II]

2. While "swearing off" big money, he has no qualms about accepting "big money" contributions....

Even this early he has accepted more than 150 contributions meeting the maximum allowable contributions from individuals ($2800) or couples ($5600). He's also accepted two OVER the maximum, $6000 from one person and $8500 from another.

As a way of getting around the perception of "big money" $2800 contributions, he's received multiple contributions from individuals that wind up reaching that $2800 maximum. In less than six weeks (the period covered by the 1Q filing, Feb 19-Mar 31), already a number of contributors have done this. The number of contributions range from 2 to 60 (22, 22, 26, 60 are the largest). This tends to cloud the fact that, despite swearing off big contributors, there are indeed many big contributors to his campaign.

As a byproduct of these multiple contributions, the well-advertised "average contribution being below X dollars" is achieved even though the average contributor amount is well above the advertised low amount.

[NurseJackie]

3. Will the secretary who works at Goldman-Sachs be permitted to contribute?

How about the personal assistant who works at a pharmaceutical company?

What kills me is that if we apply the same standards that the BS campaign is applying to other candidates, these small donations from ordinary employees would amount to BS receiving "Wall Street Money" or "Big Pharma Money".

So... is BS refusing these donations from people who happen to work for these companies? Or is there a different standard being applied?

[George II]

4. Yes, there always seems to be some sort of smear of candidates who come from populated states....

New York candidates get the "Wall Street" and "Financial Industry" smear since many banks have their headquarters in NYC
New Jersey candidates get the "Big Pharma" smear since many pharmaceutical companies have plants in NJ
Texas candidates get the "Big Oil" and "Fossil Fuel" smear since there are so many oil fields and oil refineries are in Texas
California candidates get the "Tech Industry" smear since there are high tech companies in California

But when one comes from a state with only 625,000 people and virtually no major industries, there are no "smears" to be used.

[brooklynite]

7. You want "Big Dairy" to run roughshod over our Democracy?

[George II]

9. I hear that Maple Syrup Lobby is powerful down in DC....

....they're in cahoots with the Waffle and Pancake industry.

[LibFarmer]

5. Free books for everyone!!!! nt

[Vidal]

6. Let's be honest

He's after money, wherever he can get it.

[Gothmog]

10. Yep

[wyldwolf]

8. Good. In the age of Trump, none of our candidates should carry daisies to a gun fight.

Some of the rationalization we'll hear from his more die-hard supporters will be comical, but a smart move by Sen. Sanders.

[betsuni]

11. The fantasy that Democratic voters working in finance or business can corrupt a Democratic

politician by donating some money is incredibly stupid.

[Amimnoch]

12. He can use campaign funds to buy even more of his books!!!

Then sign them, and resell them to those who attend these events! Win-win for him!