(NEWSnet/AP) — With the first 2024 Republican presidential debate six weeks away, some hopefuls are finding creative ways to boost donor numbers.

Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy unveiled a plan to let people who raise money for his campaign keep 10% of what they collect from other donors. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is offering gift cards in return for campaign donations of as little as $1. Businessman Perry Johnson is offering copies of his book in exchange for donations.

The unusual efforts are in response to a Republican National Committee requirement that participants in the Aug. 23 debate raise money from at least 40,000 donors. That's a tall task for some who aren't well-known.

Dan Weiner, an attorney who directs Brennan Center for Justice’s Elections and Government Program, said “unorthodox fundraising” tactics are becoming more common. Candidates are trying new approaches with knowledge that the Federal Election Commission could take action if legal or ethical concerns are raised.

“More often than not, these do at least sometimes raise questions about whether they’re skirting at the edge of the law,” Weiner said. “In both instances, do I necessarily think that the FEC is going to do anything about it? Maybe, but I’d be a little bit skeptical.”

On July 10, Ramaswamy introduced “Vivek Kitchen Cabinet,” a plan he said would “democratize” the fundraising process by letting fundraisers keep 10% of what they collect for him.

“Why should it be some member of some managerial class that’s a secreted, closeted group of fundraisers, in the cloistered world of politics?” Ramaswamy asked in a video posted on Twitter. 

A day later, Ramaswamy’s campaign said more than 1,000 people had registered for the program, which hires people as independent contractors subject to compliance with FEC regulations, according to the campaign’s website.

Burgum, a former software entrepreneur in his second term as governor, announced a program to distribute gift cards to as many as 50,000 people, just over the minimum donor threshold.

The campaign said it could reach its 50,000-card maximum by the end of the weekend.

Paul S. Ryan, a campaign finance attorney who has worked for nonprofit watchdog groups like Common Cause, said Burgum’s framework seems to be a violation of campaign finance law.

“Burgum’s contributing to his own campaign using the names of the people who opt into his gift card scheme,” Ryan said. “All of these gift card recipients are straw donors.”

Burgum’s campaign said its legal advisers had reviewed and approved the fundraising mechanism. FEC said it won't comment regarding legality of Burgum's plan.

Johnson, a businessman from Michigan, announced in June he would provide free copies of his book “Two Cents to Save America” — which retails for $20 — to anyone who donates to his campaign.

In addition to the donor threshold, Republican candidates must meet additional requirements to quality for the first debate.

  • They must earn at least 1% in three high-quality national polls, or a mix of national and early-state polls, from July 1 to Aug. 21.
  • They must sign a pledge backing the eventual 2024 Republican nominee.
  • They must agree not to participate in any non-RNC sanctioned debate for the remainder of the election cycle.

Weiner predicts campaign tactics will become more innovative as the 2024 election grows closer and the debate thresholds become steeper.

“The campaigns are just sort of heating up right now, and you tend to see more of this with the insurgent candidacies,” he said. “Campaigns should be given some sort of leeway to be creative.”

Copyright 2023 NEWSnet and The Associated Press. All rights reserved.