The RNC is running on fumes

Both big dollar and grassroots supporters are holding their checkbooks tight

Going into the election year on fumes

The Washington Post had a fascinating story yesterday relying on 10 different sources that the Republican National Committee fundraising is struggling and there is panic in party offices across the country as they head into the election cycle. Isaac Arnsdorf and Josh Dawsey detailed how larger donors haven’t been cutting the big checks but small donors are also not clicking the donate button.

From the story:

“The Republican National Committee disclosed that it had $9.1 million in cash on hand as of Oct. 30, the lowest amount for the RNC in any Federal Election Commission report since February 2015. That compares with about $20 million at the same point in the 2016 election cycle and about $61 million four years ago, when Trump was in the White House.”

By comparison the Democratic National Committee has $17.7 million on hand as of October 30th as they go into the election year. If note, that’s as they have been spending money including some $4 million in Virginia for the statewide legislative races the first week of November.

As expected the knives are out for Ronna McDaniel across the country as the continued complaining about her management of the RNC hasn’t eased in any way. From Trump to Patti in Virginia no one is happy with the electoral results or the fact that they are paying and holding their own Presidential debates that the front runner refuses to show up for.

I found this part interesting though:

“It’s a revenue problem,” Tennessee RNC member Oscar Brock said. “We’re going through the same efforts we always go through to raise money: the same donor meetings, retreats, digital advertising, direct mail. But the return is much lower this year. If you know the answer, I’d love to know it. The staff has managed to tighten down on expenses to keep the party from going into the red.”

You see you could argue that major donors are likely holding their checkbooks close as the bizarre Presidential primary plays out with a leading candidate under four indictments totalling 91 charges. Their anointed runner up, Ron DeSantis, has burned through millions of dollars to solidify his place as a distant third or fourth place.

Trump Inc.

But, what you are reading in that quote above is that the grassroots donors who answer their mail, click on links, and send monthly donations are also missing. Where did they go?

One thing the GOP can’t admit is that with Trump’s decision to “not lose” the 2020 election he has been milking their donors ever since. For three years he has been extorting his followers and using the GOP coffers to fuel his legal challenges, endless campaigning, and new jet.

The GOP has become an arm of Trump Incorporated and the customers are worn the hell out from near constant begging for money. There hasn’t been an “off year” since Trump ran out the back door of the White House in shame.

All of the stories of billionaires funding these massive PAC’s, and people like Glenn Youngkins naked ambition, are telling average Republican’s they aren’t needed. They don’t need to bother giving money to the party if they are already bought and paid for by the billionaires and millionaires. It’s a cycle of circling the drain and the spin started with Donald J. Trump.

What next?

It’s impossible to say whether or not they will recover once the primary season truly kicks off next year and if Trump actually does win. Will donors start flooding the coffers again in a massive act of holding their nose or will they simply sit it all out? That is the hundred million dollar question none of them can answer but I am not confident they will.

For eight years not a day has gone by that Donald Trump hasn’t begged, threatened, and cried to fleece the MAGA flock for whatever dimes they have. Maybe the couch cushions are finally drained? We will see.

In the meantime….keep up the great work, Ronna!

In the immortal words of Tanya McQuoid in White Lotus: “You’ve got this!” <thunk>