Money (That's What I Want)

 

This is the blog that points out the weird and wonderful in the Iowa caucus race 

Last week, the Cedar Rapids Gazette reported on the candidate’s expenses and campaign expenses are truly the weird and wonderful. 

What a limousine ridin' jet flyin' son of a gun might look like

This post is pulled from that article which reported on campaign spending for the third quarter of the year. 

Ryan Binkley- $3,25x,xxx

I have been predicting a Binkley breakthrough for awhile, but we will see the size of that breakthrough. The three million spent in this quarter dwarves the field but Binkley is all in on Iowa to make a name for himself. Binkley is largely funding the campaign. 

Money is being split between campaign ads and campaign gear. Binkley has been known to give hats away everywhere he goes, to get his name out there. He also has donated to the Family Leader- the Iowa Conservative think tank and wannabe caucus kingmaker. 

Donald Trump - $217,xxx

Trump visited the Iowa State Fair and made a few trips so no surprise that’s where he’s spending. Food for the events as well. He also spends on telemarketing which makes sense because I know I have gotten calls from him, and if I am getting calls, everyone must be. 

I miss having a landline so I could joke to Ms Caucus that Donald was calling her when we got those robocalls

Vivek Ramaswamy. $193,xxx

Ramaswamy gets that special Iowa Caucus badge of honor- candidate spending the most at Pizza Ranch. 

Ramaswamy has spent a lot on newspaper ads and also on big events - rental and food. He has also sponsored the Family Leader events. 

Nikki Haley $68,xxx

Half of Haley’s expenses were for Iowa Republican Party voter roles. The rest in events around Iowa that sound less ambitious than Vivek (Casey’s and St Burch Tavern Vs Ramaswamy’s Hy Vee and Kingstons Steakhouse, but also Caucus ground game expenses like opening local offices. 

Mike Pence $61,xxx

The Gazette said most of Pence’s expenses were for political consulting and for media production/audio-video. 

Doug Burgum $58,xxx

The North Dakota governor spent half of that on media consulting. The rest on travel, event expenses and catering. 

Ron DeSantis $53,xxx

DeSantis spent much of this on travel and hotel as he plans to hit all 99 counties of Iowa. DeSantis is also going “all in” in Iowa spending on events and offices for the campaign. 

Asa Hutchison $13,xxx

The economical former Arkansas governor spent most all of this amount on travel, and focused on farmer markets and local events. He also had a State Fair event in conjunction with the Iowa Craft Beer Tent. 

Tim Scott $6,xxx

Interesting to see Scott to near the bottom. Most of this attributed to events at Iowa State Fair or at Iowa State University. Scott says he plans to ramp up spending shortly. 

Larry Elder $3,xxx

Over three quarters of the talk show hosts spending was on printing and direct mailing - with the rest on event and travel costs. 

Chris Christie $367

Last but not least on the list is the former New Jersey governor who is focusing nearly all of his attention on New Hampshire. The Gazette reports one expense disclosed which was $367 spent on limo services in Marion, Iowa.