2020-Hopeful Slams DNC’s Fundraising Requirements

One of the lowest polling Dems is blaming the DNC for their poor set of standards when it comes to what is required of presidential candidates. Kirsten Gillibrand is struggling in the polls and has yet to raise the required $65,000 in order to solidify her place in the race. She feels the DNC should come up with more relevant standards.

“The thing that appears to frustrate Gillibrand the most is the fact she has yet to hit the 65,000-donor threshold, while candidates like businessman Andrew Yang and author Marianne Williamson have reached the milestone that helps candidates qualify for the first and second Democratic debates.

And her ire over that threshold is aimed at the Democratic National Committee.

“That’s an odd measurable,” she said bluntly of the 65,000-donor threshold. “Like, why do you make that your measurable as opposed to have you won elections before and have you ever run statewide before and how many votes have you gotten before and have you passed legislation and are you effective in your job?”

She added: “I think it’s random and inaccurate, but it’s their choice. They’re the DNC, so I’ll follow the rules that are given and I’ll have to play by the rules. … I don’t think it’s a measure of success. I don’t think it’s a measure of electability. I don’t think it’s a measure of quality of candidate. I think it’s just a measurable about how many online folks like you, which is not determinative of any of the things that matter about whether I’d beat Trump. At all. Not at all.”

When pressed on whether it bothers her personally that she is being passed on that measure by others, she lets out a hearty, “No!”

“Because if Madonna was running, she’d have a million supporters,” she added. “She’d have more than anybody.”

She added: “What having followers is a measurable of is whether you’re famous, it’s a measure of whether people know enough about you to send you a dollar.”

At 1% it would be surprising to her take the lead from Biden or Sanders. But she is making an interesting point fundraising should not be the standard for presidential candidates.