It finally happened.
On Tuesday, the Donald Trump presidential campaign sent its first fundraising email, asking supporters for small-dollar donations. While many of the billionaire’s critics will mock him for reneging on his promise to self-fund his campaign, asking supporters for money is something that the Republican frontrunner should have been doing for months.
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Students for Trump posted a screenshot of the fundraising email Tuesday where the billionaire promises to match every dollar for up to the first $2 million.
Trump supporters – Check your emails for Trump’s first fundraising email EVER! Join me today in donating!#Trump2016 pic.twitter.com/6HPRhDmVD5
— Students for Trump (@SoCal4Trump) June 21, 2016
Fundraising lists are vital in political campaigns. Those lists are bought by and sold to like-minded campaigns and political organizations. If Trump wants to continue the efforts of his “America First” movement, he needs to identify, fundraise, and mobilize his most ardent supporters.
Trump received a million more votes than Bernie Sanders, but he doesn’t know who his supporters are. He mostly self-financed, unlike the Vermont Senator, who funded his campaign with small-dollar donations. As a result, he lacks the fundraising list like the Democratic presidential candidate.
Sanders’ fundraising list is now 3 million strong. Politico referred to it as one of the most valuable email lists of all time. His list will elect socialist-leaning Democrats for decades.
If Trump wants to lead a movement, it’s going to take more than his wallet. The “America First” wing of the GOP needs Trump to capitalize on his large turnout, especially from untraditional Republicans, former Democrats, and independents.
An “America First” fundraising list may ensure that there will be Trumpist policy long after Trump.
