The 0-phone strategy worked perfectly for the recipients. They got something for nothing. After receiving the phones and being wholly embarrassed by the shouting freak woman, they came to the realization that there’s no need for them to hold up their end of the ‘bargain’ by supporting the Marxist. The phone’s already theirs and they know deep down that after the election Zero will have no motivation whatsoever to give anyone anything. He won’t be seeking elective office any more. So the 0-phone recipients know that the largess won’t keep flowing their way.
It’s the same as pre-paying a day laborer to do some work for you. They get the money up front and they know it’s a one-time proposition, so guess what? They don’t show up and do the job. (No, this isn’t something I speak of from experience. Just an example.)