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Nevilledog

(50,687 posts)
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 12:01 PM Sep 2020

Trump's campaign blew almost $1 billion, and now it's in deep trouble




https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-spent-1-billion-2020-election-president-politics-finance-2020-9

In the corner office of a nondescript office building in northern Virginia, President Donald Trump's new campaign manager, Bill Stepien, stares at a spreadsheet. What it tells him, in its "Matrix"-like way, is that he is presiding over the worst campaign-finance fiasco in American political history.

Trump launched his reelection effort the same day he was sworn in, January 20, 2017. In the last three-plus years, the campaign has raised and spent nearly $1 billion. One. Billion. Dollars. And now, with six weeks to Election Day, Team Trump finds itself robbing Peter to pay Paul.

How did the reelection campaign of a sitting president end up in this position? Let's run it down.

Money, money, money

Anyone who has run a national campaign knows that the first thing you do every morning and the last thing you do every night is know your cash-on-hand position: what's in the bank, what needs to be paid, what is expected to come in that day, week, and month. Without this information, or at least a general sense of it, it is impossible to craft a coherent campaign strategy and its accompanying tactics.

*snip*


56 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Trump's campaign blew almost $1 billion, and now it's in deep trouble (Original Post) Nevilledog Sep 2020 OP
You mean they embezzled too much money from the campaign? Dr. Jack Sep 2020 #1
That was my first thought. Pacifist Patriot Sep 2020 #6
Pocket the money... lame54 Sep 2020 #11
And don't forget the legal fees... SergeStorms Sep 2020 #38
They probably did plan to embezzle a billion GopherGal Sep 2020 #26
Where are DownriverDem Sep 2020 #32
They broke jorgevlorgan Sep 2020 #42
Overkill on the plan. Cha Sep 2020 #55
I can't remember the last time I blew through a BILLION Dollars... Hugin Sep 2020 #2
Eeeeew. I may never eat that vegetable again!! niyad Sep 2020 #16
My apologies. Hugin Sep 2020 #19
No apologies necessary. Brilliant. Disgusting, but Brilliant! niyad Sep 2020 #20
I guess my idea of a... Hugin Sep 2020 #23
Ohhhh, I am sooooo glad that I had just put down my coffee. Although, david vitter might have niyad Sep 2020 #25
Old Yeller presents such low hanging... Hugin Sep 2020 #36
But I am confident that you will be up for the challenge. niyad Sep 2020 #44
Take in a billion, steal a billion. Trump Economics. sarcasmo Sep 2020 #3
How many porn stars did he pay off this time? tinrobot Sep 2020 #4
At $120,000 a pop, about 833,333.......How'd he find time between tweets? KS Toronado Sep 2020 #17
Takes him no time at all. Sans text. reACTIONary Sep 2020 #29
Wonder what Donnie's personal take was on that... Thomas Hurt Sep 2020 #5
... catbyte Sep 2020 #7
No wonder he wants 3 terms. NoRoadUntravelled Sep 2020 #40
Send 'em matches and gasoline, maybe they're start burning some campaign headquarters. marble falls Sep 2020 #8
Trump: "Russia, if you're listening, send a billion in unmarked bills." TheBlackAdder Sep 2020 #9
Maybe even Russia is tired of this loser... Illumination Sep 2020 #18
Trump has some HUGE advantages, though NewJeffCT Sep 2020 #10
Good points. Lonestarblue Sep 2020 #27
This is a point Michael Cohen makes in his book. Mike 03 Sep 2020 #33
Through the Republican primaries in 2016, Trump had received something like NewJeffCT Sep 2020 #45
Fascinating fact. Wish the media would think about this. Thank you. Mike 03 Sep 2020 #48
Wasn't he calling in to Joe & Mika several times a week? NewJeffCT Sep 2020 #50
Media attention this year is uniformly hurting Trump. Blue_true Sep 2020 #53
Meanwhile, I've been listening to DeminPennswoods Sep 2020 #12
That is world class skimming! dlk Sep 2020 #13
That's not "skimming" it's "scooping" lagomorph777 Sep 2020 #21
Exactly dlk Sep 2020 #30
But this is what he's ALWAYS done with a big load of money. calimary Sep 2020 #14
What do you expect from someone with 6 business bankruptcies? THIS is a real LOSER, Illumination Sep 2020 #15
How much do you think went to Trump and family? blueinredohio Sep 2020 #22
He has a credit card from Putin. Raising money for his reelection is just a grifter cover DSandra Sep 2020 #24
Very encouraging article, and no paywall so I got to read all of it Hekate Sep 2020 #28
What a wonderful disaster for Trump Mike 03 Sep 2020 #31
This is exactly how the entire GOP operates fiscally. SleeplessinSoCal Sep 2020 #34
Well, there is a seat for sale... ZenDem Sep 2020 #35
Besides skimming money out of the campaign I thought Trump avebury Sep 2020 #37
He's bankrupting his campaign just like he did with his businesses and attempting to do NoRoadUntravelled Sep 2020 #39
Look into the kids bank accounts. Butterflylady Sep 2020 #41
But, But . . . peggysue2 Sep 2020 #43
Milwaukee media market Jimbo S Sep 2020 #46
Wow that's a whole lot of adderall! LuvJoesPartner Sep 2020 #47
I thought Trump said he was gonna write a check..nt helpisontheway Sep 2020 #49
Brad Parscale skipped with 40 million, 2 penthouses, a waterfront 2.5 million $ house, a yacht, and Botany Sep 2020 #51
Blowing a lot of cash and being in need of money people to save his ass is something Trump knows Blue_true Sep 2020 #52
Everything trump turns to SHITE. Get your MONEY UP Cha Sep 2020 #54
Other Things That Needs to Be a Campaign Issues erpowers Sep 2020 #56

SergeStorms

(18,907 posts)
38. And don't forget the legal fees...
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 02:25 PM
Sep 2020

for Trump's battalion of lawyers. Republicans wanted to put a criminal in the White House, so they have to pay the price for that somehow.

GopherGal

(1,999 posts)
26. They probably did plan to embezzle a billion
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 01:32 PM
Sep 2020

They just embezzled their billion too fast. Gotta learn to pace themselves.

Hugin

(32,784 posts)
2. I can't remember the last time I blew through a BILLION Dollars...
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 12:05 PM
Sep 2020

Must've been in the double-aughts.

Does anybody seriously believe the Butternut Squat is at all liquid much less wealthy by any measure.

Hugin

(32,784 posts)
23. I guess my idea of a...
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 01:24 PM
Sep 2020

scratch & sniff coffee table guide to the Turd Reich isn't such a super idea.



Back to the drawing board.

(Seriously, once and if, an administration comes into office that I actually respect, it's going to be a difficult transition for me.)

niyad

(112,443 posts)
25. Ohhhh, I am sooooo glad that I had just put down my coffee. Although, david vitter might have
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 01:30 PM
Sep 2020

approved.

When we have a sane and intelligent administration again, you will find many happier uses for your talents.

Hugin

(32,784 posts)
36. Old Yeller presents such low hanging...
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 02:13 PM
Sep 2020

tiny and inadequate fruit it's easy.

What I'm afraid of is a real challenge. One that may even require some thought on my part.

NoRoadUntravelled

(2,626 posts)
40. No wonder he wants 3 terms.
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 02:34 PM
Sep 2020

Two more terms = another $2Billion
In addition to seeing his businesses profit in a big way. That's not chump change.

NewJeffCT

(56,827 posts)
10. Trump has some HUGE advantages, though
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 12:17 PM
Sep 2020

free exposure on Fox News, OAN, CNN, Rush LImbaugh & clones, hundreds of RW websites and hundreds more RW newspapers.

Biden can go on MSNBC to offset that, but they don't have the same reach as many I mentioned above. The other networks would give equal time to Trumpy.

He ended up with $4 billion to $5 billion in free media exposure in 2016 and that is not changing this year - Trump is still driving the news coverage.

Lonestarblue

(9,883 posts)
27. Good points.
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 01:35 PM
Sep 2020

And there are very few undecided voters at this stage. I don’t think Trump ads would move any voter to his side now, but Biden ads might move some undecideds, especially as the virus continues to spread and the death count grows. So it’s great that Biden has the money to spend and Trump does not!

I posted the Business Insider article on Facebook and essentially said “Hey Trump supporters, this is the man who declared business bankruptcies six times and who has wasted a billion dollars of campaign cash, and you trust him to manage the $428 TRILLION federal budget! He’s wasting tax dollars, too, and doing his best to bankrupt the federal government, too.”

Mike 03

(16,616 posts)
33. This is a point Michael Cohen makes in his book.
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 02:00 PM
Sep 2020

He claims in 2016 Trump received billions of dollars in free airtime, and from Trump's perspective, it made no difference if the coverage was good or bad, or whether or not he was fact-checked, because they ran clips of him spouting his crap.

NewJeffCT

(56,827 posts)
45. Through the Republican primaries in 2016, Trump had received something like
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 03:17 PM
Sep 2020

$1.2 billion in free media coverage by the time he wrapped up the nomination, per a Harvard analysis, and that only increased over the next 6 months in the run to the RNC and then the General Election.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
53. Media attention this year is uniformly hurting Trump.
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 08:23 PM
Sep 2020

He was an unknown in 2016. Lots of people watched his made-up business show and thought that he had management chops. What they see, if they don’t have their heads up their asses, is a person that screws up everything that he touches, like he has done his whole life.

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
12. Meanwhile, I've been listening to
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 12:50 PM
Sep 2020

the big sports talk radio station here in Pittsburgh and have already heard 3 Biden ads in the last hour.

calimary

(80,700 posts)
14. But this is what he's ALWAYS done with a big load of money.
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 01:00 PM
Sep 2020

He squanders it. He squandered his daddy's money. He's squandered investors' money.

How many bankruptcies has it been by now? Five? Six?

That's what he does "for a living." He squanders big loads of money.

Why is anyone surprised?

I'm just glad it's his campaign money this time.

 

Illumination

(2,458 posts)
15. What do you expect from someone with 6 business bankruptcies? THIS is a real LOSER,
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 01:01 PM
Sep 2020

SUCKER, etc. that has destroyed our country & doesn't have a clue how to
run it...

Mike 03

(16,616 posts)
31. What a wonderful disaster for Trump
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 01:58 PM
Sep 2020
In addition to vanity ads, it has been widely reported that Parscale controls several limited-liability corporations, or LLCs, into which massive amounts of money have been funneled. Given the (bipartisan) nature of how the Federal Election Commission tracks contributions and expenditures, nothing below a prime vendor is publicly reportable. Once it hit Brad's bank account, the money could have gone anywhere and to anyone.


What about all the lawsuits the Trump campaign is filing in a dozen or so states? Is that money coming out campaign coffers?

SleeplessinSoCal

(8,998 posts)
34. This is exactly how the entire GOP operates fiscally.
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 02:04 PM
Sep 2020

It's probably why they relate to him so well. And why they play by no rules. They're basically all a criminal organization now.

Once it was clear Moscow Mitch was aligned with Putin too, we were at war. Not sure who we need as a general. Pelosi is a bit too optimistic for this battle. Joe probably is too. But he's a great figurehead.

Warren is a proper leader for the Senate. And AOC for the House. We need plain talking fighters leading in Congress. We are being dragged into a civil war against our will.

ZenDem

(442 posts)
35. Well, there is a seat for sale...
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 02:08 PM
Sep 2020

...in the Supreme Court. I'm sure that will cover part of it.

What? Do I sound bitter?

NoRoadUntravelled

(2,626 posts)
39. He's bankrupting his campaign just like he did with his businesses and attempting to do
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 02:29 PM
Sep 2020

to the country.
How very Trump of him.

peggysue2

(10,811 posts)
43. But, But . . .
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 02:58 PM
Sep 2020

Trump said he could match Biden's funds with a 10-minute phone call.

Wonder who he had in mind???

Jimbo S

(2,955 posts)
46. Milwaukee media market
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 03:52 PM
Sep 2020

I live in suburban Milwaukee. Wisconsin is a swing state. Trump needs the suburbs to turn out for him, that is the Red "X". In 2016 and 2018, there was an enthusiasm gap. Trump ads have all but disappeared from Milwaukee television. Seeing a few third-party ads. Biden ads dominate. The bad cop/good cop ads.

Botany

(70,295 posts)
51. Brad Parscale skipped with 40 million, 2 penthouses, a waterfront 2.5 million $ house, a yacht, and
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 08:16 PM
Sep 2020

some Ferrari type cars.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
52. Blowing a lot of cash and being in need of money people to save his ass is something Trump knows
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 08:19 PM
Sep 2020

well.

Cha

(295,929 posts)
54. Everything trump turns to SHITE. Get your MONEY UP
Tue Sep 22, 2020, 08:33 PM
Sep 2020

FRONT, trump vendors. This has been good advice for DECADES!

Forensic accountants could spend their entire careers trying to figure out how Trump and his campaign spent $1 billion. It's not much of a surprise that so much of the cash disappeared. Trump and his family business are known for both self-enrichment and wasting other people's money. His campaign is incidental to the fundraising.

Interesting article.. TY!

erpowers

(9,350 posts)
56. Other Things That Needs to Be a Campaign Issues
Fri Sep 25, 2020, 04:46 PM
Sep 2020

Somehow the Democrats need to tie Donald Trump's being short on cash after raising about $1 Billion to deficits increasing while Trump has been in office. This should be used to show that Trump is not a good money manager. Even if Trump can blame his campaign management team for the poor money management at the campaign, that also cast doubt on Trump's role as a leader/manager. How is it that Trump keeps hiring people who cannot do their jobs well? The fact that Trump keeps hiring people who cannot management money and who cannot do other jobs, allows someone to argue that Trump is not a good leader and lacks the judgment a leader needs in order to be effective.

This article may also show that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) needs to be tougher. Maybe more vendors need to be made to publicly report the money they get from campaigns. How many people on campaigns are taking far more money than people think from campaigns?

The information in this article may also be why the Biden Campaign seems willing to spend money in additional states. If the Trump Campaign has to spend less in states like Ohio and Arizona, that may mean the Biden Campaign may be able to spend less money in those states and spend a little more money in some other states.



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