You may think 4/20 is a day for slackers, but Joe Biden was really hustling!
| Emails | Campaigns | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 9 | 1 |
| Non-Donor | 4 | 1 |
| Donor | 5 | 1 |
For all new readers: Welcome! I am currently on the mailing lists of Joe Biden and Donald Trump, though I have previously been on the mailing lists of 28 Democratic candidates! This blog breaks down recent emails with charts and excerpts. If you already know all of this, feel free to skip to the next chart!
It took some time for the Trump emails to kick in, so I started officially tracking his list on July 7. I have been tracking Biden’s for longer, but I will start comparing them as of July 7. All of these emails are going to a new email, and I have not donated, filled out surveys, signed petitions, or otherwise interacted with either candidate’s emails.
The rules I try to follow for the various categories are laid out in The Framework.
With FEC deadlines coming every month, the campaigns don’t make such a big fuss about them (or don’t ever stop making a fuss about them). However, on the 20th of the month, the previous month’s FEC filing is due. Apparently, that was what triggered this flood of emails from Joe Biden, who sent 5 emails to his donors and 4 to his non-donors.
When Biden sends out a newsletter, he fills it full of asks. In addition to his donation ask, he gave me articles to read, videos to watch, and events to attend or volunteer to host. Biden also encouraged me to send in my own questions for him to answer: in his most recent newsletter, he reiterated that his vice president would be a woman when asked what he was looking for in a VP.
Question from Mary in Annapolis: What are the key criteria you are using in selecting your running mate, and when will you make that decision?
Joe Biden
I learned from the best — Barack Obama — on what to look for. When it comes to the Vice Presidency, I’m looking for someone to be a partner in progress. Someone who’s simpatico in how they see the challenges the country faces. Someone who is ready to be President at a moment’s notice. I’ll assure you now, as I have said before, my running mate will be a woman because it is well past time we had a woman in that office. My main criteria is that my running mate will be my partner in governing just as much as she will be in campaigning. Someone who will fight for the American people every day on the job.
While the bulk of Biden’s emails were still about raising money, he did want to let me know how successful his March fundraising had been: over $46 million. Of course, he did still need to make more money to catch up to Trump and the RNC, so… donate again please?
Biden also was upset about a commercial Trump had put out, spending $10.2 million on an ad that was blatantly false about Biden in an attempt to distract from Trump’s own failures in the pandemic. However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Biden campaign. This Saturday, they are celebrating their 1-year anniversary and are doing so with a celebration for the SOUL of the nation.
Aimin, when Joe launched our campaign a year ago this Saturday, he said that this election is more than just politics — it’s about the soul of this country. That is true now more than ever before.
On Saturday, we’re asking our supporters to come together virtually for our Service Outreach Unity Leadership (SOUL) of the Nation Saturday to thank Saint Joseph’s heroes.
In the midst of our current crisis, the grit and spirit of the American people are shining through.
From posting a sign thanking frontline workers in your window, to calling or texting friends and family to check in on them, or attending a virtual community meeting to discuss how you can support the good work happening in your community, there are so many opportunities to join us.
Thank you for your support and dedication to bettering the world around you.
Team Joe
For some reason, this invitation to celebrate the anniversary of the campaign launch by doing good things was only extended to his donors. I’m a bit confused as to why, though, as this seems like the perfect opportunity to unite people in goodness instead of hatred.
Regardless of why he did it, he did it. Now we’ll get to see if this flush of emails is sustained, or if it was a one-day, FEC-filings-are-due thing.
But their emails! 