CAMPAIGN TRAIL Clockwise from left: Rick Santorum in South Carolina; Rick Perry in Iowa; and Mitt Romney in New Hampshire.
Campaign ’12
CAMPAIGN TRAIL Clockwise from left: Rick Santorum in South Carolina; Rick Perry in Iowa; and Mitt Romney in New Hampshire.
WHAT ABOUT SUPER PACS? Unless you run with the big dogs financially, you probably won’t have to worry about super PACs. Some of them do direct-mail fundraising, but most of them are fueled by million- dollar gifts. The Crossroads GPS group that for-
mer George W. Bush “architect” Karl Rove works with aims to raise and spend some $300 million on various races in 2012. That’s not to say you shouldn’t donate to a super PAC, but know that your donation will be a drop in a very large fundraising bucket.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK Election Commission disclosures
success contacting local or state-level campaigns, rather than a candidate’s national headquarters. Be persistent, and let them know
how much of your time you can afford to donate. Right now, most candidates are focused on getting their fundrais- ing staffs up to speed, and are in the early stages of filling out the rest of their campaign organizations. The GOP presidential primary
could extend into the spring, which means the real fun hasn’t even begun. So there’s still plenty of time to get involved.
DONATIONS Whether you donate to a PAC or
an individual campaign depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. But to help you keep things in perspective, consider that in a general election, no presidential candidate will focus par- ticularly on anyone who donates less than $100,000. Some well-connected individuals
combine their donations with others they solicit from friends and family
— these are called “bundlers,” and successful ones can wield significant influence within a campaign. In terms of timing, the greatest
impact is made by sending your money early. Candidates always remember who supported them from day one. But early donors can count on being besieged by more donation requests as the campaign wears on.
COMMENTARY
Michael Reagan: A Divided GOP Doesn’t Deserve to Win
T
hey say they are all Reaganites and that they want my father to return — my father, who lived by his so-called 11th Commandment that no Republican should speak ill of another Republican.
He understood that Republicans can always win when they are united. They
have a message the voters understand and support. We can beat Barack Obama and his socialist message if we are unified, but if we are divided and broadcasting a confusing message — which is what Obama craves — it will help him win another four years in the White House. Every time the GOP picks a candidate with weak Republican convictions, the
Republican Party loses. And lose they should. A party that will not defend its principles doesn’t deserve to win.
— Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant, and the author of The New Reagan Revolution (St. Martin’s Press, 2011)
FEBRUARY 2012 | NEWSMAX 31
are made public 15 days after the end of every quarter. Search for them online. Also, every campaign has a comptrol- ler who checks that money is properly spent. But spending decisions are usu- ally made by the candidate, so donate to people you trust. Anyone who has ever participated
in a campaign will tell you it can be a life-changing experience. There’s a chance on election night you’ll see your favorite candidate smiling beneath a shower of confetti. You’ll be proud to say you helped.
030_CAMP_Buck.indd 31
1/6/12 4:59 PM
WHAT ABOUT SUPER PACS? Unless you run with the big dogs financially, you probably won’t have to worry about super PACs. Some of them do direct-mail fundraising, but most of them are fueled by million- dollar gifts. The Crossroads GPS group that for-
mer George W. Bush “architect” Karl Rove works with aims to raise and spend some $300 million on various races in 2012. That’s not to say you shouldn’t donate to a super PAC, but know that your donation will be a drop in a very large fundraising bucket.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK Election Commission disclosures
success contacting local or state-level campaigns, rather than a candidate’s national headquarters. Be persistent, and let them know
how much of your time you can afford to donate. Right now, most candidates are focused on getting their fundrais- ing staffs up to speed, and are in the early stages of filling out the rest of their campaign organizations. The GOP presidential primary
could extend into the spring, which means the real fun hasn’t even begun. So there’s still plenty of time to get involved.
DONATIONS Whether you donate to a PAC or
an individual campaign depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. But to help you keep things in perspective, consider that in a general election, no presidential candidate will focus par- ticularly on anyone who donates less than $100,000. Some well-connected individuals
combine their donations with others they solicit from friends and family
— these are called “bundlers,” and successful ones can wield significant influence within a campaign. In terms of timing, the greatest
impact is made by sending your money early. Candidates always remember who supported them from day one. But early donors can count on being besieged by more donation requests as the campaign wears on.
COMMENTARY
Michael Reagan: A Divided GOP Doesn’t Deserve to Win
T
hey say they are all Reaganites and that they want my father to return — my father, who lived by his so-called 11th Commandment that no Republican should speak ill of another Republican.
He understood that Republicans can always win when they are united. They
have a message the voters understand and support. We can beat Barack Obama and his socialist message if we are unified, but if we are divided and broadcasting a confusing message — which is what Obama craves — it will help him win another four years in the White House. Every time the GOP picks a candidate with weak Republican convictions, the
Republican Party loses. And lose they should. A party that will not defend its principles doesn’t deserve to win.
— Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant, and the author of The New Reagan Revolution (St. Martin’s Press, 2011)
FEBRUARY 2012 | NEWSMAX 31
are made public 15 days after the end of every quarter. Search for them online. Also, every campaign has a comptrol- ler who checks that money is properly spent. But spending decisions are usu- ally made by the candidate, so donate to people you trust. Anyone who has ever participated
in a campaign will tell you it can be a life-changing experience. There’s a chance on election night you’ll see your favorite candidate smiling beneath a shower of confetti. You’ll be proud to say you helped.
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