Washington – Ben Carson Campaign Reaping Cash As He Rises In GOP Polls

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    FILE - In this Aug. 27, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson speaks  in Little Rock, Ark. August is typically one of the worst fundraising months for any politician. But it was Ben Carson’s best yet. The political novice, a retired neurosurgeon seeking the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, raised $6 million, doubling his July total, his campaign told the Associated Press on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston, File)Washington – Vacation-filled August is typically one of the worst months for any politician to raise money. But it was Ben Carson’s best yet.

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    The political novice, a retired neurosurgeon seeking the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, raised $6 million, doubling his July total, his campaign told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

    Carson’s supporters have handed over roughly $20 million since he began raising money in March, making him a fundraising standout in a sprawling field of 17 Republican contenders.

    He enters the fall well-funded and rising in the polls, having carved out a niche as the mild-mannered version of bombastic Republican front-runner Donald Trump. Both appeal to voters — and small donors — who reject politics as usual.

    The doctor’s campaign is unusually reliant on small donors when others have turned to super PACs for million-dollar checks. Trump, a multibillionaire, is largely paying his own way. Of Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, only Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has a higher percentage of small contributions, defined as $200 or less per election cycle, than Carson.

    The dollars have arrived through innovative marketing campaigns and brisk sales of swag.

    “Carson for president” ball caps have netted $700,000 and individually numbered lithographs of the doctor an additional $500,000. A 90-page abridged version of Carson’s best-selling book “Gifted Hands” has sold 47,000 copies at $20 apiece.

    Even Carson’s campaign bus — dubbed the “Healer Hauler” by his fans and given its own Twitter handle (@healerhauler) — became a fundraising opportunity. The vehicle will soon be adorned with the names of some 4,000 children whose parents each paid $50 for the privilege.

    Carson turns his attention to traditional political fundraising this month, as he attends 25 events across the country where price of entry starts at $1,000. And a trio of pro-Carson super PACs and a nonprofit policy group in recent days got a boost when it became legal for his former campaign manager, Terry Giles, to coordinate their efforts. By law, Giles had to “cool off” for 120 days before joining the outside groups, which unlike the campaign, can accept donations of unlimited size.

    Carson posted strong initial fundraising numbers when his campaign filed its first two reports this year. Through the end of June, no Republican campaign had raised more except former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. (Govs. Scott Walker, John Kasich and Chris Christie hadn’t been in the race long enough to file reports at the time.)

    Carson’s money is paying for about 50 campaign employees and an intense travel schedule for the candidate.

    Campaigns aren’t due to file their next fundraising reports, covering July through September, to federal regulators until mid-October. Most have been reluctant to share summer fundraising totals.


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    3 Comments
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    mr613
    mr613
    8 years ago

    Dena worst nightmare!
    Carson debunks all the myths the race batters have been peddling for years!
    A successful brain surgeon!
    A

    sylmoss
    sylmoss
    8 years ago

    I hope this guy makes it.
    I really did not think he would have a chance, but looks like not the whole world drank the kool-aid.. seems some can still think.
    He is smart, he knows what hard work means. He had an amazing mother. He is a family man, one wife……. A religious and moral man. How I wish he makes it!!
    He did not whine when there was prejudice towards him because he was black – her stayed focused and came out the big winner.. We all did too as a result of his perseverance but that again is due to his clear focus.

    yaakov doe
    Member
    yaakov doe
    8 years ago

    A Trump-Carson ticket will certainly be interesting to watch. I doubt if Trump would run as his VP since he has too huge an ego.