DeSantis’ Strategy for Fundraising: No Spam, No Tricks

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Takes Ethical Approach to Fundraising

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is determined to build donor trust and out-raise Democrats by adopting a more ethical approach to fundraising.

DeSantis’ campaign team is breaking away from the usual tricks and gimmicks that are commonly used in political fundraising, as reported by The New York Times. The Republican candidate’s presidential campaign has pledged to avoid spammy and irritating tactics such as desperate pleas and fake deadlines.

To reinforce this message, the DeSantis campaign headquarters in Tallahassee has created a wall dedicated to their small-dollar donors. Each person’s first name and last initial, who has contributed to the campaign, is proudly displayed on the wall in blue, red, or black script.

“We want our staff to look at that wall, remember who supports us, to remember why we’re here,” said DeSantis campaign manager Generra Peck.

The Democratic Party Fundraising Advantage

The Democratic Party has long held an advantage in fundraising, thanks to their online platform ActBlue. Democrats typically have deeper pockets, allowing for more advertising and better awareness. In contrast, the Republican Party’s answer to ActBlue, a platform called WinRed, was built 15 years later and has not yet matched Democratic fundraising.

Former President Donald Trump, known for his successful online fundraising, utilized tactics that the DeSantis campaign has now sworn off, according to The Times. The DeSantis campaign believes that these tactics, embraced by politicians across the spectrum, have actually hindered fundraising efforts as small-dollar donors grow weary of constant pleas for money.

“We want to take a more measured approach that will lead to long-term gains and help Republicans close the fundraising gap,” the DeSantis team stated.

Avoiding Manipulative Tactics

One of the manipulative tactics that the DeSantis campaign is avoiding is setting the default for online donations as “recurring donations,” leading donors to unknowingly make monthly contributions instead of a one-time donation, as highlighted in a separate report from The Times. Donors had to manually opt out by unchecking a box buried in fine print.

By taking a more ethical and transparent approach, the DeSantis team believes they can achieve long-term gains and help Republicans close the fundraising gap with Democrats.

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