“Donald Trump, who spent more of his own money on his campaign than any other presidential candidate in history, also raised more in small-dollar donations than anyone else ever did.
Trump brought in $239 million in donations of $200 or less, more than Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders combined, according to the Campaign Finance Institute, a Washington-based research group.
He also proved more adept at raking in small-dollar contributions than Barack Obama, who brought in $219 million in 2012 and $189 million in 2008. Clinton raised $137 million and Sanders $100 million in donations of $200 or less.”
NJ.Com
Donald Trump didn`t buy the election, he invested a tiny fraction of his enormous wealth into his campaign. Putin`s hackers didn`t tilt the election in favor of the Orange Menace, an enormous backlash against the status quo as represented by Hillary ensured Trump`s victory. The media wasn`t responsible for Trump`s triumph, sure they provided the reality TV star with wall-to-wall coverage of his campaign speeches, but they were unabashedly in Hillary`s camp.
Trump campaigned as a populist, and he`s governing like a dictator, but the irony is that he was elected in a democratic fashion. Trump raised more in small-dollar donations than any presidential candidate in the history of our democracy. It was hardworking patriots in flyover country and frustrated blue-collar workers in the rust belt who sustained Trump`s campaign with their small donations.
Trump`s economic populist message resonated with millions of voters across the country, he owes his unexpected victory to rank-and-file voters.
Like it or not, Donald J. Trump is the president of all Americans, and we shouldn`t resort to undemocratic means (riots, fake news) to undermine and delegitimize his administration.
Read More:
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/02/trump_funded_much_of_his_campaign_himself_heres_wh.html
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