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Sancho

(9,065 posts)
Fri Mar 4, 2016, 07:55 AM Mar 2016

Does money matter? Is Bernie broke?

http://www.dailynewsbin.com/opinion/despite-claims-on-cable-news-bernie-sanders/23987/

Bernie Sanders has already spent up his February haul, has a few million dollars left at most

It is factually correct that Bernie Sanders raised around $42 million during the month of February. But that was when most people were under the impression that he was a contender or even a frontrunner, because that’s what cable news had spent the past six months inaccurately telling them. Democrats supported Bernie, and donated to him, because they thought he could win. What the pundits on television keep failing to mention is that he’s already spent most of his February money on his failed Super Tuesday gambit. And now that the nation can see he’s not competitive, there will be far less money coming in.

Here’s the real math on how campaigns work: of the $96 million total sum that the FEC says Bernie Sanders had raised prior to February, he had already spent $82 million of it, leaving him just $14 million cash on hand on February 1st. His pattern so far has been to spend most of his money as it comes in, which all campaigns must do when they’re behind and trying to catch up.

And this was back when he only had to lay out advertising dollars in the one early state that would be voting at a time, not eleven Super Tuesday states simultaneously. In an attempt to make a comeback, Bernie ran wall to wall national


Frankly, I don't understand Bernie's use of dollars. For example, registration for a closed primary was over in Florida weeks ago, and many have already voted by mail. Why run ads here for the first time this last week in an expensive market?

No matter, Bernie appears to have outspent Hillary in several primary markets and it didn't help him on Super Tuesday. The next few weeks are more expensive, and he is further behind in the polls. Bernie has not faced attack ads of any consequence yet. His effort appears to be in trouble now. Out of money, behind on everything (polls, endorsements), and no way to get traction outside of a few rural, mid-western states.
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Does money matter? Is Bernie broke? (Original Post) Sancho Mar 2016 OP
Not only is he burning though money (no pun intended) sufrommich Mar 2016 #1
yeah, strange spending habits. Cha Mar 2016 #2
Republicans are channeling monies into blocking Trump these days... FarPoint Mar 2016 #3
There is no way to know how much Bernie money is RW... Sancho Mar 2016 #5
Exactly, the GOP is ultimately after Hillary. FarPoint Mar 2016 #6
In other words... yallerdawg Mar 2016 #10
It looks like the Sanders Show will be non-renewed this season... Sancho Mar 2016 #13
I never believed that Progressives donated that much to Sanders, either, and since the GOP funded BlueCaliDem Mar 2016 #14
Really interesting - by the sound of it Politicub Mar 2016 #4
After the primaries began and the candidate is not big in the winning column Thinkingabout Mar 2016 #7
Feel the Bern Rate! 72DejaVu Mar 2016 #8
The ROI doesn't seem to be a very good one. NurseJackie Mar 2016 #9
Is there not an Independent National Committee to prop him up? LannyDeVaney Mar 2016 #11
The Burlington PTA is tapped out!!! Sancho Mar 2016 #12
Jesse Ventura for INC Chair!! nt Bleacher Creature Mar 2016 #15
He doesn't seem to handle money very well 4now Mar 2016 #16
Sanders has made a major contribution though... CalvinballPro Mar 2016 #17
The campaign finance debate has gone on all my life... Sancho Mar 2016 #18
Now that's what I call "Berning" through cash. But hey, it ain't my money to "bern". Tarheel_Dem Mar 2016 #19
Ouch!!!! Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Mar 2016 #20

sufrommich

(22,871 posts)
1. Not only is he burning though money (no pun intended)
Fri Mar 4, 2016, 08:13 AM
Mar 2016

but diminished returns tend to lose donors by the truckload. The less he wins,the less the average donor is willing to continue donating. He may be able to hold onto his most ardent donors,but those donors will hit their legal limit,if most haven't already.

FarPoint

(12,207 posts)
3. Republicans are channeling monies into blocking Trump these days...
Fri Mar 4, 2016, 08:36 AM
Mar 2016

So, the small donor backdoor for Sanders is closing shut. I never believed that progressives donated that much to Sanders...they just don't have that kind of money to toss out, never have had it . If they did, more change would of happened during the Obama Administration to fix Congress and amend progressive issues.

Sancho

(9,065 posts)
5. There is no way to know how much Bernie money is RW...
Fri Mar 4, 2016, 08:46 AM
Mar 2016

The GOP is obviously capable of sending money to Bernie in order to defeat Hillary...for example:

http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/mostcorrupt/entry/vern-buchanan

Rep. Buchanan’s claim he knew nothing about thousands of dollars in illegal contributions propping up his campaign is laughable — except to federal investigators.

Since 2010, 11 individuals and corporations tied to Rep. Buchanan have been fined for illegal conduit contributions to his campaign.


If Bernie's donations drop off, it could be because he's losing, but it also could be that the Koch brothers, etc. have stopped propping up his campaign too. After all, the GOP is really after Hillary, not Bernie.

FarPoint

(12,207 posts)
6. Exactly, the GOP is ultimately after Hillary.
Fri Mar 4, 2016, 08:50 AM
Mar 2016

Sanders hype is just another avenue of their assault. She has a Valerian Steel Aura ( Game of Thrones reference) ...she is amazingly strong.

Sancho

(9,065 posts)
13. It looks like the Sanders Show will be non-renewed this season...
Fri Mar 4, 2016, 11:43 AM
Mar 2016

at best he will have a cameo as an extra who is killed in a giant battle!

Game of Thrones would be as good an epic exit as any other.

BlueCaliDem

(15,438 posts)
14. I never believed that Progressives donated that much to Sanders, either, and since the GOP funded
Fri Mar 4, 2016, 11:45 AM
Mar 2016

Nader in 2000 and 2004, I'm very, very skeptical of fringe candidates (even the one running under the Democratic Party banner) can raise millions upon millions in a single month while the true Democrat in the race is raising an equal amount. It just doesn't add up.

Also, the GOP and GOP money-masters are terrified of a Hillary Clinton nomination because it means eight more years of a sane Democratic Administration that will actually HELP the American people, economy, JOBS (so they can't force people to take whatever is there no matter how low the wage), SCOTUS picks, and a pathway OUT of war in pursuit of peace.

Politicub

(12,163 posts)
4. Really interesting - by the sound of it
Fri Mar 4, 2016, 08:40 AM
Mar 2016

You would think his campaign is flush with funds. The truth from the Bernie campaign is often an illusion or an outright lie.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
7. After the primaries began and the candidate is not big in the winning column
Fri Mar 4, 2016, 09:14 AM
Mar 2016

The donations start to drop, throwing good money after bad. It takes big money to run for president, he can say big money should not be in politics but the fact remains. Even with a candidate who is well known like Hillary it takes lots of money. Senator Elizabeth Warren said she spent $42 million in her campaign in one state, then you add forty nine more and now the amount rises.

 

CalvinballPro

(1,019 posts)
17. Sanders has made a major contribution though...
Fri Mar 4, 2016, 09:52 PM
Mar 2016

I am a Clinton supporter since 2008, but I will say this about Bernie Sanders: He has made a giant contribution to the campaign finance discussion. Demonstrating the amount of money that can be raised at the grassroots level is something I think more Democrats needed to be reminded of. It's a source of funding that keeps them much closer to their actual constituents and their interests.

I wish that he could channel this fundraising into more Congressional candidates though. It would be a major coup for an Act Blue financed candidate to win a Senate raise, or even a House seat. That would draw even more attention to this financing method. I'm afraid, however, that after Sanders burns through money on his quest to the convention that people will not want to donate as much out of fear of a wasted investment. Being entrusted with donors' money implies a responsibility, not a blank check.

Sancho

(9,065 posts)
18. The campaign finance debate has gone on all my life...
Fri Mar 4, 2016, 10:23 PM
Mar 2016

matching funds, give a dollar on your tax return, limits, transparency, abscam, on and on....

To me, Bernie is mistaken. Controlling gerrymandering, term limits, and outlawing organizations like ALEC would make more difference than contributions to PACs.

The influence of money is low hanging fruit.

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