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发帖数: 29846 | 1 Small-dollar donors flock to Trump, help power his campaign
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump likes to boast about his enormous wealth and
how he doesn't need anyone else's money to pay for his presidential
campaign. That hasn't stopped tens of thousands of people from chipping in
with checks as small as $10 to let the Republican candidate know they're
behind him.
Trump has taken in 73,942 contributions, a total that surpasses several of
GOP rivals, despite the billionaire businessman's early pledge to finance
his own campaign. Financial reports filed last week also show that more than
70 percent of the $3.9 million he raised from July through September came
from people giving $200 or less. That rate of small-donor contributions is
second only to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who's in the Democratic race.
The average Trump contribution was $50.46, his campaign said.
The contributors are in small towns, suburbs and big cities. He's raised
money from hundreds of retirees, ranchers, dentists, physicians, real estate
executives and financial consultants.
For Ansley Pascoli, 64, a retiree in Sandy Springs, Georgia, the money is
intended as a symbol of support. She gave the Trump campaign $25 and bought
several hats and T-shirts, one of which she was wearing Friday.
"One of my reasons for wanting to support him is that even though I know
that he does have a lot of money, I don't feel that it's right for him to
have to bear the burden," she said in a telephone interview when asked why
she was giving money to someone who has bragged about not needing campaign
cash.
"And even though my contribution was small, I want him to have the feeling
that there are other people that are behind him," she said.
It was a sentiment expressed by many of those who appear on Trump's
contributor list and is evidence of the passion he has elicited from voters
angry over the country's direction and craving a political outsider.
Pascoli said she was drawn to Trump because of his hard-line stance on
immigration, his business background and the fact he's not a product of the
political system.
"I really think we are in a pivotal time for the country and we need
somebody who has the type of skill set that he has," she said.
Stephan Robinson, a commercial real estate broker in Pearland, Texas, said
he contributed $250 because he felt an obligation to help.
"If you support a candidate, it shouldn't matter how much money he's got,"
Robinson said. "He shouldn't have to spend all his money."
Robinson went on: "I know he doesn't need my money and the little bit of
money I've sent, it's not going to make a big difference. But I just feel in
good conscience, that if you support somebody, you should contribute to
help offset some of his costs." Robinson also offered to volunteer and
provide office space if the campaign wants to come to town. He's given money
to another Republican in the race — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
Illinois retiree Beverly Perlson, who's from a military family, said she was
immediately drawn to Trump because of his attention to veterans' issues and
his promise to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The first time she heard him speak about the issue, she said, "I absolutely
fell in love with Donald Trump at that moment."
Her recent $100 contribution was intended to say thank you. "My heart
rejoiced because he's honestly the first person who stood up for our troops,
our veterans," she said.
While Trump originally denounced the idea of contributions, he appeared to
warm to the idea over the summer. His campaign now makes it easy to give,
with a prominent "Donate" Button" on his website. The site also offers an
online store full of campaign gear, such as $30 hats with Trump's "Make
America Great Again" slogan and $50 sweatshirts.
The latest filings show that the vast majority of Trump's campaign expenses
in the last quarter were financed by contributions, not by Trump himself.
Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said in August that the campaign
had received tens of thousands in small-dollar donations, but contributions
would remain "a very small portion" of the campaign's funds. He did not
respond to questions Friday about the extent to which the campaign's
calculus had changed.
Many of the logged contributions reflect purchases from the website. Elle
Koch, a semiretired business owner from Cincinnati, Ohio, made a hooded
sweatshirt and bumper sticker purchase.
Koch, a frequent phone-banker, would like an eventual role with the campaign
. She said she wasn't surprised by the large number of contributions.
"This is one of the things you can do right now to show your support," she
said.
Source URL: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/small-dollar-donors-flock-trump-help-power-his-campaign |
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