Former Vice President Mike Pence has raised nearly $1.2 million in the first three weeks of his presidential campaign, according to a Pence adviser. Pence officially launched his bid for the GOP nomination in early June, and a more detailed fundraising report will be filed with the Federal Election Commission by Saturday.
Pence’s campaign has focused on small-dollar fundraising, particularly through direct mail appeals. Although this approach takes time to yield results, he has received support from several major Republican donors. Among them are Joe and Kelly Craft, who served in the Trump administration and ran for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in Kentucky. Haley Barbour, former governor of Mississippi, Pete Coors, former beer magnate, and Ross Perot Jr., son of the former independent presidential candidate, have also shown their support. It is yet to be determined if these donors have contributed to Pence’s campaign directly or to his aligned super PAC, Committed to America, or if they have also supported other presidential candidates.
Speaking to reporters in Iowa, Pence indicated that he has not yet reached the minimum requirement of 40,000 donors to qualify for the first primary debate next month. The Republican National Committee has set this threshold, along with the condition that candidates must pledge to support the eventual nominee and meet certain polling thresholds. Pence expressed confidence in meeting the polling threshold but acknowledged the need to work diligently to reach the donor requirement. Despite registering above the required 1% threshold in national polls, Pence has struggled to garner double-digit support, which he attributes to the relatively short time since he announced his candidacy.
It’s worth noting that Pence’s fundraising total is one of the lowest among the presidential candidates announced so far. However, it’s important to remember that he has only been in the race for three weeks. As the campaign progresses, it remains to be seen how his fundraising efforts will compare to those of his competitors.
In conclusion, Mike Pence’s presidential campaign has reported raising nearly $1.2 million in the first three weeks, with a focus on small-dollar donations through direct mail appeals. While he has received support from major Republican donors, he still needs to reach the minimum donor requirement to qualify for the upcoming primary debate. Pence remains optimistic about meeting the polling threshold and believes that with time, his poll numbers will improve. As the campaign moves forward, all eyes will be on Pence’s fundraising efforts, which will play a crucial role in his bid for the Republican nomination.
