Republican 2024 presidential candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) are offering supporters money in exchange for donations.
The candidates’ strategies differ. In Burgum’s gambit, donors who give at least $1 will receive a $20 gift card. The move is intended to get the governor to the 40,000 donor limit to qualify for the Republican presidential debate, Politico reported. Ramawamy’s program, which he has dubbed the “Vivek Kitchen Cabinet,” allows supporters who raise funds for him to earn a 10% commission.
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In a video posted on Twitter, Ramaswamy denounced the current campaign financing system as an “oligopoly,” saying he was moving to democratize the process.
“If somebody … is going to make 10% of the money they would raise for me or other candidates, it might as well be you,” the tech entrepreneur said in an appeal to supporters. “Let’s decentralize that.”
A small oligopoly of political fundraisers is already making an ungodly amount of $$ on this election. It’s disgusting. I’m breaking up that cartel. Today we’re launching the Vivek Kitchen Cabinet: starting today, *anyone* can fundraise for the Vivek 2024 campaign & make a 10%… pic.twitter.com/k2y9ZL8WPe
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) July 10, 2023
His campaign CEO, Ben Yoho, told ABC News in an interview that 300 people had applied in the first hours after launch, and they hoped the number would reach 1,000 by the end of the day. He also defended the program against accusations that it was a multilevel marketing scheme.
“This is a flat-base commission, just like we pay our political fundraiser who’s on staff here. … This just expands that opportunity to our grassroots supporters,” Yoho said.
Burgum’s plan to send gift cards to donors of at least $1 was framed as an altruistic effort to help people combat inflation under President Joe Biden.
“Doug knows people are hurting because of Bidenflation and giving Biden Economic Relief Gift Cards is a way to help 50,000 people until Doug is elected President to fix this crazy economy for everyone,” spokesperson Lance Trover said, according to Politico. “It also allows us to secure a spot on the debate stage while avoiding paying more advertising fees to social media platforms who have owners that are hostile to conservatives.”
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Long-shot candidate Perry Johnson beat the two candidates as the first to offer a novel solution to reach the 40,000 donations goal. Johnson has been selling T-shirts for $1 each, which he hopes will help him reach enough donors to get on the stage.
In addition to meeting the fundraiser goal, the Republican National Committee announced that candidates must also poll at least 1% in a national poll and pledge to support whoever the eventual 2024 nominee is.
