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brooklynite

(94,727 posts) Thu Jul 23, 2015, 07:23 AM Jul 2015

Parties begin quest for convention cash

The Hill

Democrats and Republicans are firing up their fundraising machines for next summer’s presidential conventions.

After Congress eliminated public funding for the nominating extravaganzas, both parties are under pressure to come up with the upwards of $60 million that will be needed to showcase their 2016 nominees.

The GOP is off to a faster start than Democrats, according to federal reports reviewed by The Hill, hauling in about $3 million from donors for their event so far this year.

Billionaire hedge fund managers Paul Singer and T. Boone Pickens, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund and Charles R. Schwab, the CEO of the financial company with the same name, have all made donations to the fund for the Republican convention, which will be held in Cleveland next July.

I had a chat with one of the convention fundraisers a few weeks ago. They're planning a greater emphasis on corporate donations this time around. Hoping I can get in at the same prices as Charlotte.

(nb - this is an area where I don't support public financing, since they're largely party rallies and candidate advertising events).

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Parties begin quest for convention cash (Original Post) brooklynite Jul 2015 OP

Interesting that the conventions TBF Jul 2015 #1

First Convention I attended (aside from those in NYC) was Charlotte... brooklynite Jul 2015 #2

TBF

(32,090 posts)

1. Interesting that the conventions

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Thu Jul 23, 2015, 08:38 AM

Jul 2015

are being held in Philadelphia and Cleveland - not very far from each other. Do you usually attend the convention? What happens there beyond what we see on TV? I assume parties and such.

brooklynite

(94,727 posts)

2. First Convention I attended (aside from those in NYC) was Charlotte...

Reply to TBF (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 23, 2015, 09:13 AM

Jul 2015

in addition to what you see on TV, there are a lot of policy wonk sessions around town (went to some great discussions on engaging millennials in the political process), as well as advocacy events for different causes (attended a session with undocumented aliens pushing for immigration reform). Also, a lot of prospective future candidates make the rounds of the daily delegate breakfasts. Alsoa good place to talk to State Party officials to find out who's got their act together (OH, NH) and who doesn't (PA, FL, AZ).

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