![]() “Every race has become nationalized in terms of fundraising, so even if you’re just running for Senate in Florida, it’s important that you have support in 49 other states because you need that fundraising help,” said Terry Sullivan, who managed Rubio’s 2016 presidential bid. In Florida, a perennial battleground, Rubio spent nearly $1.8 million on it. In 2020, South Carolina hosted one of the most expensive Senate races in history, and while it’s not expected to draw nearly as much attention in 2022, Scott spent $5.5 million on digital-related efforts last year. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Rubio’s (R-Fla.) campaigns also spent big on digital expenditures last year, though they’re running for reelection this year. Senate campaigns, from Georgia to Arizona, smashed fundraising and spending records in 2020, costing hundreds of millions of dollars. It also reflects the rising cost of running a statewide race and the realities that any modern campaign must include small-dollar donors. Growing a digital operation is not a guarantee that any candidate will run for president, but it’s about leaving options open, GOP operatives said. “Forming these outside groups or super PACs, and using them as a vehicle for online list building, is the new exploratory committee,” Cameron said. Whether that means 2024 or 2028, that’s an open question,” said Tim Cameron, a Republican digital consultant. ![]() “You can’t wait until you launch your campaign to build an online donor base.”Įspecially for candidates who are not currently in office, “there’s definitely some interest here. “Anyone who’s serious about running for president in 2024 has already begun building a campaign behind the scenes, and the foundation of a good campaign is a big database of supporters,” said Alex Conant, a Republican consultant who worked on Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential bid. Hanging over everything is former President Donald Trump, whose Save America political operation spent $6.4 million on digital politicking in 2021.
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