Yeah, yeah, the election’s two and a half years away. No one’s actually a declared candidate yet.
But, as they say, early money is like yeast. Let’s say there’s a potential candidate I’d like to support. What’s the best way to do that, given that I can’t contribute money to his or her non-existent presidential campaign fund?
(While I do have a particular party and potential candidate in mind, I’m interested in general answers. Given that both Democrats and Republicans are fielding a variety of presidential candidates this election cycle, I figure the advice will ideally cross parties and candidates.)
look up how to get in touch with your particular political party’s committee. after that, you can ask them the exact question.
if you believe that all politics is local, then start showing up to your city council meetings in addition to looking up the state political committee. then show up to your local political party meetings. i did. because i was young, i was taken in rather quickly, because the next oldest person that was there was about in the mid thirties, i’d say.
More important now are the upcoming elections for the Senate and Congress…as a Democrat, I know that without the support of both houses, we’re still up shit creek without a paddle. Democrats can make a significant change sooner than 2008! Look towards the upcoming November elections first.
Following DMark’s lead, and straying from the OP even a bit more, there has been talk of ballot initiatives in my state that might come to the voters this June or November. Passing or rejecting a particular ballot initiative may not have much effect on the presidential race, but it’s another thing to get yourself involved in. Just a thought.
I may agree with that, but it wasn’t actually my question. Being involved with congressional and local elections doesn’t preclude supporting a potential 2008 presidential candidate, though, which is why I was asking.
OK then…contact the staff of the person you want to support and ask if there is anything you can help them with at this point - perhaps mailings for a bill they are supporting, or working for another candidate they are behind. By contacting his/her staff, you are automatically put on their mailing list, and trust me - when the time comes, you will be one of the first to be hit for money and time and energy.
Unless you live in NH or IA, you are probably down to sending money. If the candidate like Senators Clinton and Allen have an active campaign fund, you can send those campaign funds money. They are making trips to NH and IA to gauge potential support right now and they can use those campaign funds to make those trips. No one is actually setting up a formal exploratory committee until next year. Setting up the committee enables them to raise funds for the Presidential race.
Alternatively when they make trips to speak to various party committees like the X County GOP committee, they are usually doing so as part of a fund raiser for that oraganization. So send the organization some cash and indicate support for the candidate.
Last, if that candidate has a PAC set up, you can donate to that PAC. Someone like John Edwards has the One America committee since he doesn’t have an active campaign at this time. The money won’t go directly to the Edwards campaign, but it allows him to donate to like minded democrats to curry favor and allows him to run the organization which is effectively a platform for his potential candidacy. Several candidates who have active campaign funds also have PACs like McCain and Clinton.
And save your money so you can travel for a week to NH in late 07 or early 08 to actively volunteer.