We have some really BIG news that I want to share with you.
On Friday, Nathan Gonzales, the Political Editor of the
Rothenberg Political Report, wrote a story for
Roll Call announcing that United States Senator
Jim DeMint was the first Senator to embrace Slatecard to exclusively process his online donations for his campaign. I've pasted the
Roll Call story (subscription req.) below for your review.
As a leader in the Senate, Jim DeMint will be able to help
evangelize to his colleagues and others the benefits of using the most
cost-effective platform in the industry to process his donations. We're
honored that he's a part of the team.
Catching up with the Democrats online is going to take a full-team effort. As you know, we've set a goal of raising
$1 million this election cycle which would outpace what the Democrats'
ActBlue raised in their first cycle.
According to the Wall Street Journal, ActBlue raised $791,900 in the
2004 election cycle. As of today, we've raised $428,491.63.
To help us reach our goal and
thank U.S. Senator Jim DeMint for believing in Slatecard, I'd urge you to join me in making an immediate donation to both
his re-election campaign and his political action committee, the
Senate Conservatives Fund. $100, $50, or even $25 will make a huge difference and will send a clear signal that we respect Sen. DeMint's leadership.
DeMint Embraces Online Fundraising Tool
July 11, 2008, 1:46 p.m.
By Nathan L. Gonzales
Roll Call Contributing Writer
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has agreed to use the Republican Web site Slatecard exclusively for his fundraising.
DeMint, one of the most tech-savvy Members of the Senate, is the first
Senator to utilize the popular Web site. And it's just an extension of
his efforts to reach constituents, voters and donors through the Web.
"Sen. DeMint is excited about new technologies that allow direct and
dynamic communication with people in South Carolina and throughout the
country," DeMint Communications Director Wesley Denton said.
DeMint, the chairman of the Republican Steering Committee, has a sleek
Senate Web site, where he and his staff blog. The site also has six
separate regional blogs maintained by staff and accessed by inputting a
county or ZIP code. He used YouTube to respond to President Bush's most
recent State of the Union address. And he has a Twitter account, but
it's just a feed from the blog on his campaign Web site, not a
minute-by-minute breakdown of his daily activities.
The former owner of a marketing company, DeMint has engaged the
blogging community and embraced the Internet has a strategic and
marketing tool.
He committed just a few days ago to Slatecard and has taken in $3,581
from 12 contributors. But his race for a second term isn't until 2010.
The move could give the Web site a boost. DeMint is a star within
conservatives in the caucus. He raised $9 million in 2004 and will
raise more next cycle. DeMint is also using the site to raise money for
his political action committee, Senate Conservatives Fund.
Slatecard, considered the Republican equivalent of ActBlue on the
Democratic side, has taken in about $411,000 since its inception nine
months ago. The goal of the site's founders is to raise $1 million for
the cycle.
ActBlue was founded in 2004 and has taken in $56.8 million since.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the site took in nearly $792,000
in its first cycle.
The top Republican fundraiser on Slatecard thus far was Kevin O'Neill,
who raised $64,744 from 126 contributors by using Slatecard exclusively
for all his fundraising for the special election last fall in
Virginia's 1st district. He lost the GOP nominating contest to Rep. Rob
Wittman (R).
The site was co-founded by David All, a former communications director
to Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), and San Diego software developer Sendhil
Panchadsaram. All is also the founder of TechRepublican.com.
Thank you Senator DeMint. You da man.