Category Archives: campaigns

“There’s Only One Reason Biden Won’t Drop Out”

July 6, 2024, 7:37 amcampaignsRick Hasen

The Atlantic: Why is Joe Biden still in the presidential race? In the days since his disastrous debate performance last week, pressure on the 81-year-old incumbent to step aside has continued to mount, forcing the candidate and his defenders to… Continue reading

Democratic, Republican fundraising for election litigation hits $70 million in 15 months of 2023-24 election cycle, up from $45 million in 2020 (but down from $101 million in 2022)

July 5, 2024, 6:35 amcampaign finance, campaignsDerek Muller

Continuing my occasional look at fundraising earmarked for election litigation, the first 15 months of this election cycle show more than $70 million fundraised earmarked for election litigation. That’s an increase from four years ago when it was nearly… Continue reading

“Major Democratic Donors Devise Plans to Pressure Biden to Step Aside”

July 4, 2024, 4:03 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: After several days of quiet griping and hoping that President Biden would abandon his re-election campaign on his own, many wealthy Democratic donors are trying to take matters into their own hands. Wielding their fortunes as both carrot and… Continue reading

“Gullible News Media Give Credence to Heritage Foundation Analysis that Says it Would be Difficult for Democrats to Nominate Someone Other than President Biden”

July 3, 2024, 4:57 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

Richard Winger blogs. See my earlier analyses here and here.

“Here’s how Harris could take over Biden’s campaign cash if he drops out and she runs for president”

July 3, 2024, 4:54 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

AP News reports.

The Tik-Tok Election

July 1, 2024, 6:37 amcampaigns, cheap speechRick Hasen

Playbook: A new report from CredoIQ shows the viral-video peril for Biden after the debate. Among the top-performing TikToks responding to the debate — which garnered 483 million views — 39 percent of views were on negative Biden content,… Continue reading

“New Pro-Trump Super PAC Quietly Spends Millions on G.O.P. Ground Game”

June 26, 2024, 4:59 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: Republicans have quietly formed a new super PAC that is preparing what appears to be a significant push to persuade former President Donald J. Trump’s voters to vote early or by absentee ballot. The group, America PAC, was created… Continue reading

How Bob Bauer Channels His Inner Trump (for Biden Debate Prep)

June 24, 2024, 6:21 amcampaignsRick Hasen

Q and A with Politico.

“Disappointment and ‘depression’: Biden’s biggest fundraisers watch their advantage vanish”

June 23, 2024, 2:42 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Politico: Joe Biden’s campaign planned to bury Donald Trump in an avalanche of cash. Instead, his allies are bracing for a slugfest without the benefit of a fatter wallet, as financial reports showed Trump outraising Biden in back-to-back months, hauling… Continue reading

“Trump raised so much last month he erased Biden’s cash advantage”

June 21, 2024, 6:44 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Politico: Former President Donald Trump’s huge May fundraising haul erased President Joe Biden’s longstanding cash advantage as the two gear up for a rematch. Trump’s campaign had $116.6 million in the bank at the end of May, compared to $91.6… Continue reading

Indiana: “Beckwith poses a ‘serious threat’ to Braun’s campaign, says GOP powerhouse lawyer” (Includes Jim Bopp Memo)

June 17, 2024, 11:20 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Indiana Capital Chronicle: Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Braun faces a “serious threat” to his candidacy after Noblesville pastor Micah Beckwith was selected as his running mate, according to an internal campaign memo penned by prominent conservative attorney Jim Bopp. The… Continue reading

Citing First Amendment, Michigan Supreme Court narrows construction of voter intimidation statute after 2020 robocall prosecution

June 14, 2024, 8:10 amcampaigns, cheap speechDerek Muller

People v. Burkman and People v. Wohl, decided yesterday by the Michigan Supreme Court, a 5-2 decision. The majority narrowed construction of the statute and remanded for further consideration. The dissenting opinions, which concurred in part, would have held… Continue reading

Social-pressure mailers back in the news

June 13, 2024, 7:32 amcampaigns, UncategorizedJustin Levitt

Since Gerber, Green & Larimer’s 2008 study – among the most widely cited articles in political science since that time – there’s been both academic and practical interest in the sizable turnout impact of mailings using the shaming impact of… Continue reading

Hard to beat this split-screen

June 11, 2024, 5:41 pmcampaign finance, campaignsJustin Levitt

NBC News on courting older voters with phone banks and pickleball. WaPo on courting younger voters with beer and birth control. And the money quote: “‘You have to be able to drink the beer whether you voted… Continue reading