Thursday, February 11, 2016

The Mazuma is the Message: Can Hillary Win the Nomination with Big/Super PAC Money? Can Bernie Get Elected Without It?

The tone of the fundraising emails of the two Democratic campaigns is noticeably and dramatically different. After raking it in from big donors and the Super Pac, the Hillary team seems to be trying to turn the ship to a new course so that they can now demonstrate that they receive lots and lots of smaller Bernie-style individual donations.



Consequently, while the Sanders ' dunning emails remain passionate and transparent in the need for money, the fundamental messaging of the campaign continues to punch through loudly and clearly. It's a necessary tool, the contributions of his supporters almost a given at this point, but not the primary point.  Or at least so far. But the tone of the Hillary camp, especially emails under the signature of Robby Mook, are more hectoring, sweaty, desperate. One email even seemed to lay responsibility for the New Hampshire defeat on her supporters, for not doing enough financially, asking donors to ask themselves "could I have chipped in more?" The messaging is getting lost in the American hustle for OPM. It may not even be the money, as much as to compete for the number of small donations.


I do understand and respect the fact that campaign financing is currently structured toward big donors. The Hillary camp clearly sees that not utilizing Wall Street, Super Pac and other Big donors potentially places any candidates (except self funding billionaires) at a distinct disadvantage if they renounce the current campaign finance tools available.

Whether Bernie could even continue to wage a full primary season and major Presidential campaign should he be the nominee without accepting big donations remains to be seen. But for now the tone and focus on mazuma of the Clinton team seems to be hapless at best and self defeating at worst. The nickel and diming seems to clash with her well publicized big pay days speaking with banks and Wall Streeters. As a result, If the Clinton team do not want to end up like the Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Sea they should reevaluate their strategy and messaging before the campaign gets blown completely off course.


--Anthony Napoli
Deep in the Heart of Brooklyn

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