For The 2022 GOP, “It’s All About The Benjamins, Baby”

This struck me as I’ve been watching the slow motion train wreck of the GOP’s 2022 primaries. There are several fundamental differences in the way that the two parties run campaigns, and they could have a major impact on November, which you’d never know if you didn’t follow the money. Two examples, and we’ll go from there.

In Pennsylvania, GOP gubernatorial candidate won a tough fought primary against multiple opponents, in which his own party establishment was against him. Trump didn’t endorse him until the final weekend, and kicked nothing into the kitty. Meanwhile, Democrat Josh Shapiro raised more than $12.4 million running unopposed, and was so rolling in it he spent a little in advertising touting Mastriano as the Trumpiest candidate, helping to hand pick his opponent.

In Georgia, it appears that GOP incumbent Governor Brian Kemp is going to walk home in victory against Trump supported challenger David Perdue. But it wasn’t cheap or easy. Perdue bloodied Kemp up, calling him a traitor for certifying the 2020 election, and Trump campaigned for Perdue. Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams ran unopposed, and was able to campaign positively, as well as concentrate on her world class grassroots turnout machine.

This seems to be a recurring theme. Many GOP incumbents in both chambers are running against far right challengers, most hand picked by Traitor Tot, while many Democratic incumbents are running unopposed. Which means that they can campaign on positive accomplishments, as well as campaigning against the likeliest opponent with little fear of incoming.

But it’s when you look at the fundraising techniques of the two parties that you begin to see the fault lines appear. Let’s start with the bare bones, and extrapolate from there.

In the first quarter of 2022, the RNC reported revenue of $219 million, while the Democrats posted revenue of $213 million. With the Democrats popularity polling as poor as it is, they should be much farther behind. The GOP reported cash-on-hand of $54 million to the Democrats $48.2 million. But again the Democrats have the advantage, since they’re not sending monthly or quarterly checks to His Lowness to cover his extensive legal fees. One more thing. Look for the Democrats to kick ass in Q2. The Alito draft overturning Roe v Wade didn’t pop until the end of Q1, and the Democrats have been reaping rich rewards there.

Next, on to the mechanics, and I’ll try to keep it light. The GOP is known as the Party of big business for a reason. As I’ve written previously, the average GOP candidate’s personality is so terrible they couldn’t sell a clean getaway car to Bonnie and Clyde. They fundraise by phone, from major donors, and the problem there is that if they do it too early, their donors max out for the cycle, leaving them high and dry at critical times.

The Democrats are polar opposites. Democratic candidates, especially in the House live and die by retail politicking, getting out and campaigning with the people. Also, since the House tsunami of 2018, most Democrats raise cash by the grassroots, eschewing business and corporate donations. This serves two purposes. First, it shows the voters that the Democratic candidates belong to them, and not deep pocket interests. And second, since most donations are $50 or less, it assures a candidate of a steady stream of campaign income throughout the campaign.

Here’s why that’s so important. Because the GOP candidates personalities are so terrible, They. Don’t. Campaign. They don’t tend to go out in public without protection, and they don’t actually face the voters. Instead they tend to stay in Mom’s basement, and campaign on either social media, or on electronic media such as radio and television. Both of these cost money, and great gobs of it. The Democrats spend on social media and advertising, but as a support for their physical campaigning, and not a replacement for it. Say what you will, voters like to look a candidate in the eye, and hear them respond to them.

And here’s the wild card that could spell deep trouble for the GOP in 2022. The RNC should be well ahead right now in the money game, and they’re not. For a good reason. The Trumpster Fire. Trump’s campaign is spending as much time and effort fundraising every day as the RNC is, but they’re gearing that fundraising towards the Trump base. That’s money that would normally flow into the RNC’s coffers, for them to spread around to support local candidates. But instead, it’s going to Hair Twitler. And if we know one thing about Trump, it’s that He. Don’t. Share!

That’s what could be a major factor going into November. The Democrats are hitting the stump, pressing the flesh, and hopefully spending wisely. The GOP is frantically calling around maxing out donors, and when that’s gone, they need the base, which is sending all of its money to Trump. If you watch nothing else, watch the FEC quarterly reports. Remember, in the last quarter of 2020, Trump had to lend his own campaign some personal money to advertise down the stretch. He won’t do that this time, I guarantee it.