I have set up a new pledge site for Ron Paul. It is www.oscarstilley.com/ronpaulpledge. Anyone can pledge as little or as much as they like, and the person making the pledge can raise their own pledge at any time using a code that we provide by email.
The pledge is due only if we get pledges for $25 million by the end of the year. Otherwise no one owes anything as a result of making the pledge. Here is the logic for the pledge. Over and over I hear people say “I’d love to support Ron Paul but he can’t win” or some variation thereof. People want a true statesman such as Ron Paul, but they just don’t think we can provide the financial backing to get him nominated and elected.
If Ron Paul gets $25 million this quarter, he beats all the other Republicans in fundraising by a wide margin, probably 2 to 1. He can then advertise heavily in the early states and probably sweep them. If he sweeps the early states he will get a flood of money from people who want to jump on the bandwagon and support a winner, and from that point on Ron Paul is unstoppable.
I know that Iowa goes in early January and New Hampshire may actually go in December, but if we can get on track to complete this pledge on time, the official campaign will be able to see this and plan accordingly. The rate of pledging is the key to making this pledge drive beneficial in the early states.
Plus, if this gets promoted in the right circles, we could conceivably get this drive completed well before the end of the year. This pledge is complementary to every pledge, drive, or other fundraising plan out there. For example, if you pledge today and pay on Monday November 5, that donation counts toward the pledge. Early money is like yeast, it makes the dough rise.
Therefore, this pledge campaign is geared toward getting the money in asap, yet obtaining commitments from those who only want to contribute money to a winner. Could I get your help in promoting this pledge? Perhaps you could email some of your friends. Maybe you know a few people who think that $25 million is not possible, but they would like to be part of such a sea change in the political scene if we could get to that number.
If you have any ideas for improvement by all means please let me know. The pledge drive is starting Sunday, November 4, 2007. Thanks for your help.
Oscar Stilley
