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Is Ben Carson Running for President?
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/11/ben-carson-running-for-president.html ^

Posted on 11/03/2015 6:39:06 PM PST by springwater13

Carson is doing a lot of things that seem puzzling for a presidential campaign, but quite logical for a brand-building exercise. He is taking weeks off the campaign trail to go on a book tour. His campaign itself is structured much more like a scamming venture than a political one. An astronomical 69 percent of his fund-raising totals are spent on more fund-raising. (Bernie Sanders, by contrast, spends just 4 percent of his intake on fund-raising.) In addition to direct mail, Carson seems to have undertaken a massive phone-spamming operation. Spending most of your money to raise more money is not a good way to get elected president, but it is a good way to build a massive list of supporters that can later be monetized. Perhaps it is a giveaway that the official title for Armstrong Williams, the figure running the Carson “campaign,” is “business manager,” as opposed to “campaign manager.” It does suggests that Carson is engaged in a for-profit venture.

Carson’s combination of flamboyantly reactionary statements and subdued (to the point of appearing medicated) persona lend him an aura of trust and honesty. Carson’s supporters see him as a brave truth-teller; his critics think he’s genuinely nuts. Even those concerned with his methods grant him the presumption of innocence — right-wing commentator Erick Erickson, running down Carson’s astronomical fund-raising costs, frets, “I suspect there are some who see Carson as a cash cow.” But it is a fallacy to imagine that a kook cannot also be a scammer. There is a long tradition of cult leaders, televangelists, and other snake-oil salesmen who were both.

(Excerpt) Read more at nymag.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: carson; elections
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To: sefarkas

Neither Carson nor Trump has an organization that can bring folks to the polls or caucus.>>>
there was an artcle posted here that stated that jeb and trump were the only two candidates with the ground game organizations.


21 posted on 11/03/2015 7:45:11 PM PST by kvanbrunt2 (civil law: commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong Blackstone Commentaries I p44)
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To: sefarkas
Neither Carson nor Trump has an organization that can bring folks to the polls or caucus. When is this nonsense season going to end?

maybe you could read or at least think before you speak..

Trump Building Big Ground Game in Iowa

Philip Rucker and Robert Costa, Washington Post: For many Americans, the Trump presidential campaign amounts to a billionaire talking endlessly, and entertainingly, on television. But here in Iowa, it's another story. Trump is trying to beat the politicians on their turf, building one of the most extensive organizations in the Republican field. The groundwork laid by Trump's sizable Iowa staff, with 10 paid operatives and growing, is the clearest sign yet that the unconventional candidate is looking beyond his summer media surge and attempting to win February's first-in-the-nation caucuses. This is becoming a cause of concern for rival campaigns.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/an-iowa-surprise-donald-trump-is-actually-trying-to-win/2015/08/13/564a9f50-4142-11e5-8e7d-9c033e6745d8_story.html

22 posted on 11/03/2015 7:47:05 PM PST by true believer forever (Lord, Give me this mountain.)
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To: sparklite2

“Aren’t there restrictions on how money donated to campaigns can be spent?”

Yes, a few, but nothing that’s claimed here. I.e., a candidate cannot spend for personal use, i.e., his/her home and family obligations, etc. It’s not uncommon for a candidate to spend a very large percent of funds on advertising to develop name (brand0 ID.

This is nothing but a hit piece. I note the author’s name is not shown.


23 posted on 11/03/2015 7:49:56 PM PST by EDINVA
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To: EDINVA

I note the author’s name is not shown.


That would be Sum Gai.


24 posted on 11/03/2015 7:51:42 PM PST by sparklite2 (All will become clear when it is too late to matter.)
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To: sparklite2; EDINVA

Jonathan Chait


25 posted on 11/03/2015 7:57:31 PM PST by Cboldt
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To: sagar

Not the first to do that...from Jesse Jackson to Pat Buchanan, running for President has been a profitable experience (building and fleecing the flock).


26 posted on 11/03/2015 8:05:14 PM PST by peyton randolph (I am not a number. I am a free man.)
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To: kvanbrunt2

there was an artcle posted here that stated that jeb and trump were the only two candidates with the ground game organizations.
***********************************
Ted Cruz has established a wide-spread ground game, as mentioned in several past FR articles. He’s not just concentrating on the early States.

Carson is just raising money to supplement his retirement, as he gets to keep his campaign funds when he drops out.


27 posted on 11/03/2015 8:06:09 PM PST by octex
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To: springwater13

“Carson seems to have undertaken a massive phone-spamming operation.”

Got a call from ‘em today. Told ‘em never to call again and immediately blocked the number.


28 posted on 11/03/2015 8:30:00 PM PST by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: springwater13
What is puzzling is why NY Mag is not hyperventilating about Hillary's 90% burn rate?

Hillary Clinton campaign spends nearly 90% of money raised
www.cnn.com/2015/10/.../hillary-clinton-campaign-money-burn-ra...
CNN
Oct 2, 2015 - Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign spent 90% of the money it raised over the last ... practice that her aides say allows her to do more events and fundraisers in a day. ... Clinton's operation is far more expensive than the on

29 posted on 11/03/2015 8:45:47 PM PST by MNJohnnie ( Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered)
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To: true believer forever
Ten! Oh my. That’ll do wonders. Organizations have been in Iowa going on a year. Y'all have got to be kidding.
30 posted on 11/03/2015 8:46:35 PM PST by sefarkas (Why vote Democrat Lite?)
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To: kvanbrunt2; sefarkas; JediJones; octex
Really really really need to try to LEARN some things that are not hymns of praise to your candidate of choice before posting. These sort of hyperbolic attack posts just make you people look foolish and non-credible.

Need To Turn Buzz Into Votes? Trump And Carson Bank On Ground Games

http://www.npr.org/2015/11/03/454192900/trump-carson-campaigns-build-ground-support-in-iowa

31 posted on 11/03/2015 8:51:06 PM PST by MNJohnnie ( Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered)
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To: true believer forever

Raised 23 million spend 13 million. 56%,

Hmm seems Math, like rational thought, is beyond the attack bots skills sets


32 posted on 11/03/2015 8:53:27 PM PST by MNJohnnie ( Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered)
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To: sefarkas

That the ticket, cling to the lies rather then learn anything that challenges your mindless worship of your candidate.

http://www.npr.org/2015/11/03/454192900/trump-carson-campaigns-build-ground-support-in-iowa


33 posted on 11/03/2015 8:55:15 PM PST by MNJohnnie ( Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered)
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To: springwater13

Spending most of your money to raise more money is standard operating procedure.


34 posted on 11/03/2015 10:11:16 PM PST by TBP (with the wrong hand)
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To: springwater13

This all seems spot on. Suspending the campaign to do a book tour sealed the deal for me. His campaign is a scam and his target is Christians.


35 posted on 11/03/2015 10:54:09 PM PST by 20yearsofinternet
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To: MNJohnnie
Raised 23 million spend 13 million. 56%,

Hmm seems Math, like rational thought, is beyond the attack bots skills sets

raise 13.5, spend 10. actually for those with reading comprehension skills and a penchant for thinking before they speak the rate is actually .76. i'd say more but it'd be too easy.

'The first fundraising letter went out in August 2013, and in 2014 the PAC raised just over 13.5 million dollars–more than the top Hillary Clinton PAC, Ready for Hillary. According to expenditures analyzed by the Center for Responsive Politics, the PAC then spent about ten million dollars on more fundraising mostly by direct mail.

36 posted on 11/03/2015 11:06:55 PM PST by true believer forever (Lord, Give me this mountain.)
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To: cuban leaf

“I think this is what Cruz is waiting for.”

I think you are right!


37 posted on 11/04/2015 3:25:32 AM PST by DH (Once the tainted finger of government touches anything the rot begins)
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To: TigerClaws

“...but he lacks the balls needed to be POTUS.”

Right On!


38 posted on 11/04/2015 3:26:45 AM PST by DH (Once the tainted finger of government touches anything the rot begins)
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To: Lumper20

Me neither. The more I learn, the less I like him.


39 posted on 11/04/2015 6:23:17 AM PST by MamaB (Heb. 13:2)
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To: catnipman

Carson has my email and home address. Funny how I was sent a SDA book.


40 posted on 11/04/2015 4:24:23 PM PST by Lumper20 ( clown in Chief has own Gov employees Gestapo)
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