The Republican primary debate has set a popularity threshold of 40,000 individual contributors to determine who gets to appear. In a clever move, Doug Burgum, a long-shot contender at the bottom of recent polls, decided to buy campaign contributions instead of relying on conventional methods. He offered $20 gift cards to the first 50,000 people who donated at least $1 to his campaign, with one lucky donor having the chance to win a Yeti Tundra 45 cooler. This strategy not only saved him money but also garnered him significant publicity.
Instead of spending money on direct mail, personalized social media ads, or television ads, Burgum chose to purchase gift cards at a discounted rate and resell them. By doing so, he was able to calculate the advertising value, additional revenue, and breakage when the cards were not redeemed, making this a clever hack. Additionally, many contributors likely gave more than $1, further benefiting his campaign.
Tags associated with this article include debates, hacking, and voting. The article was posted on July 14, 2023, at 7:09 AM, and has received one comment so far. The sidebar photo of Bruce Schneier is credited to Joe MacInnis.
Key Points:
1. Doug Burgum, a Republican primary candidate, bought campaign contributions instead of relying on traditional methods.
2. He offered $20 gift cards to the first 50,000 people who donated at least $1 to his campaign.
3. By purchasing gift cards at a discounted rate and reselling them, Burgum saved money and gained publicity.
4. This strategy allowed Burgum to calculate the advertising value, additional revenue, and breakage from unredeemed cards.
5. Many contributors likely gave more than $1, further benefiting his campaign.