# POLL: much to you expect to donate politically in 2020 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 9, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196 "2020-09-09T19:36:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/21 "2020-09-11T14:48:19Z")
I don’t believe in how campaigns spend their money. I don’t believe candidates need rallies or robocalls or any of the other stupid stuff they spend their money on. How about we vote on what they stand for instead of how energized/scared they make us feel? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/22 "2020-09-11T15:53:29Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > I don’t believe candidates need rallies or robocalls or any of the other stupid stuff they spend their money on. I’m no expert, but I think some of t he money is spent on “get out the vote” efforts, which seems worthy (although I don’t know exactly what it entails). ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/23 "2020-09-11T16:33:41Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > I don’t believe candidates need rallies or robocalls or any of the other stupid stuff they spend their money on. I don’t believe you live in the real world. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/24 "2020-09-11T17:32:50Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I don’t believe you live in the real world. Exactly, I called my family out on the issues bullshit last Thanksgiving. I’m sure they’re going to watch a lengthy issues debate, then retire to the lounge with thick briefing books, put on the smoking jacket and then weigh the pros and cons of each candidate. I probably shouldn’t argue politics around them after a couple drinks but after spending so much time volunteering for candidates, I wasn’t in the mood for that crap ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/25 "2020-09-14T17:16:29Z")
No, I do. I realize those things work for stupid people, which gets votes. But I don’t have to donate my money to them. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/26 "2020-09-14T17:29:05Z")
I’m not allowed to donate at all, be it money or time. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/27 "2020-09-15T18:12:21Z")
I vaguely recall a study where for every 100 voter calls, about 3-4 people who got called directly ended up voting who wouldn’t otherwise. also I think another 3-4 people who lived with the person ended to voting too. but it gets to be pointless. I get lots of calls to vote and I’m voting anyway. all that labor could go to better use. As far as donations, I gave some to Bernie but don’t intend to donate to anyone else this cycle. maybe some dem senators in close races. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/28 "2020-10-01T02:30:47Z")
I’ve closed the poll after 21 days. I’m impressed that 54% of the respondents have donated, much more than I expected. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/29 "2020-10-15T20:29:05Z")
[ActBlue reports bringing in $1.5 billion for Democratic candidates in the third quarter-- more than double the Republicans’ fundraising platform reported.](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/15/actblues-stunning-third-quarter-15-billion-in-donations-429549) So if you fell into the 54% of Dopers who donated, you’ve been a part of an historic fundraising haul. Initially, in the poll, I voted that we were going to donate between $250 and $500, but we ended up donating just north of $500, more than we’ve ever donated in the past (I think previous years we topped out at a $100 or $200, maybe?) We spread our love out across several state parties, candidates and election committees: - Steve Bullock (Senate, MT) - Amy McGrath (Senate, KY) - Jaime Harrison (Senate, SC) - Sara Gideon (Senate, ME) - Gary Peters (Senate, MI) - Theresa Greenfield (Senate, IA) - Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee - Bryan Berghoef (House, MI-2) - Julia Pulver (Michigan State House candidate) - Bridgette Mary McCormick (Michigan Supreme Court candidate) - Elizabeth Welch (Michigan Supreme Court candidate) - Joe Biden - North Carolina Democratic Party - Georgia Democratic Party - Arizona Democratic Party - Michigan Democratic Party - Pennsylvania Democratic Party - Ottawa County (Michigan) Democratic Party Here’s to a November bloodbath (electorally speaking, of course). ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/30 "2020-10-15T21:01:22Z")
I think I’m up to about $1800. I keep Acting Blue! My recent gives were Amy, Jaime, Sara, Jon, Gary. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2020, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/31 "2020-10-16T02:54:51Z")
Mine were to Jon, Sara, Steve and Joe. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/32 "2020-10-16T03:08:44Z")
I’ve reopened the poll if anyone wants to update their vote. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2020, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/33 "2020-10-16T03:38:14Z")
I’m now at $500 total, which is an order of magnitude greater than I’ve ever donated to any candidate or political campaign before. That includes $350 to Biden-Harris, and $150 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2020, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/34 "2020-10-16T04:02:50Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I’ve given at least a hundred dollars to, I think, every Senate Dem in a winnable race. I have also donated several hundred to the Biden campaign already, and will almost certainly give more down the homestretch. I’m also giving to a local judicial candidate who I strongly support. Roughly this. We gave money to a lot of senate campaigns. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2020, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196/35 "2020-10-16T04:28:03Z")
Just made another donation after watching a recap of of the town hall “debate” from earlier this evening (along with a great ad for Joe Biden). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-much-to-you-expect-to-donate-politically-in-2020/920196.md?page=1)