The email solicitations, with red lights flashing and dire warnings of catastrophic defeat, have already started hitting donors, large and small, in both political parties.
Two weeks ago, the message from party leaders exclaimed that last-minute campaign contributions were crucial for victory on Nov. 6. Now, the clarion call is that more money is needed immediately in order to win on Nov. 3, 2020.
One day before the midterm elections, Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez admonished Democratic donors: “There is simply too much at stake in this election to take anything for granted. We are pulling out all the stops.” Though many, if not most, of those on his email list had already contributed, he sought additional donations of up to $100.
On Monday of this week, Perez was back again, and his fundraising plea hadn’t changed much: “… Our work is just getting started. There couldn’t be a more important time to invest in the Democratic Party … Help sustain this fight for the long haul.”
This time, he was asking for monthly donations of up to $100 over the next two years.
One key reason why the Democrats seem desperate to keep their momentum going after the wins they secured in the midterms is that Trump has a $100 million head start toward the 2020 election. According to the Chicago Tribune, Trump’s re-election campaign and affiliated committees have already raised about $106 million, far more than past presidents had accomplished after less than two years in office.
Trump’s fundraising, which began hours after he was sworn in, is bolstered by robust sales of his MAGA hats and other Trump paraphernalia.
Meanwhile, with a large field of Democratic presidential hopefuls expected to emerge, the Dems may not have a nominee for 18 months. Here’s how the Tribune recently described the situation:
Supporters are buying Make America Great Again gear and responding to Facebook ads. A barrage of Republican Party fundraising appeal emails bearing Trump’s name and likeness have helped draw in a steady stream of donations of less than $200, which make up more than 40 percent of its fundraising this cycle.
“I need you to defend our agenda, our country, and our Presidency,” one fundraising email said.
Trump has been equally successful at luring large contributions from wealthy donors who support conservative causes. These groups are better organized and act more strategically than any Democratic outfits that raise money from big donors, said Joel Benenson, who was a campaign strategist for Barack Obama.
The election that just ended (though some House races are still undecided) was labeled by party leaders as “the most important election of our lifetime.”
You can bet they’ll say the same in 2020. They always do.
