Fred Thompson's New Fundraising Pitch
National Journal has partnered with NBC to embed reporters with the campaigns of top presidential contenders and in two key states, Iowa and New Hampshire. This is the latest report from the field. Check "Tech Trail 2008" for other tech-related campaign developments.
By Adam Aigner-Treworgy
The campaign kickoff of Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson has certainly generated a lot of media attention, and in the Southern primary states of South Carolina and Florida, it has generated a fair amount of voter attention. But how much of that attention has translated into much-needed donations to Thompson's campaign?
Following the candidate's big announcement speech in Des Moines earlier this month, his communications staff was diligent about releasing numbers that touted the success of Thompson's Web-based announcement strategy at attracting visitors and donations on its Web site, Fred08.com. The campaign bragged that it raised more than $300,000 in 24 hours online.
But after that, nary a word has come from the Thompson campaign on fundraising tactics until Friday, when the campaign announced a new gimmick meant to get Thompson devotees more involved in the campaign. In an e-mail sent to supporters, the campaign announced the "Kick-off Challenge," a program that encourages supporters to make a fundraising commitment and fulfill it by the end of the month. Successful fundraisers then will be dubbed Kickoff Champions and will be eligible for special merchandise commensurate with the amount they raise.
To spur support for the program, the Thompson camp once again decried the actions of MoveOn.org: "The stakes in this election are as high as ever, and Democrats are showing that they will, once again, win at any cost. This week, MoveOn.org, the liberal interest group that practically funds the Democratic Party, took out a full-page ad criticizing our military commanders -- at a discount from The New York Times."
Thompson quickly added such anti-MoveOn language to his stump speech after the placement of the group's ad last week.
Also included in the e-mail about the Kickoff Challenge is a link to a campaign video of an event in Florida, during which Fred proclaimed that the Democratic majority's refusal to disavow the actions of MoveOn.org made it apparent that "the average 20-year-old who is serving us in Iraq knows more about national security than many of the 20-year veterans in Congress."
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