Scott Walker is still taking donations — to pay off his campaign debt
It's been six weeks since Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) dropped out of the presidential race, a casualty of low poll numbers and financial challenges. And while poll numbers are no longer a concern, Walker is still struggling with the financial part and wants to know, can you lend a hand?
"[A]s things changed dramatically in the presidential race, 'Walker for America' incurred a campaign debt and it is my hope that you and all of our supporters will chip in and make an online contribution," Walker wrote in an email to supporters Friday morning. "It is a lot to ask, I know, but we feel personally obligated to make sure that every small business that extended us their good faith and credit is repaid."
Walker would like to "end [his] presidential race on a positive note," and is asking for donations of between $25 and $1,000. Walker spent around $90,000 a day during his 70-day campaign, although he also generously paid his employees: Some were on track to earn $120,000 a year. Sources close to the campaign told The Washington Post that Walker's debt is around $700,000.
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To be sure, this isn't the first time a campaign has asked its supporters to serve as a debt clean-up crew: Hillary Clinton's 2008 campaign debt was only just paid off in 2013.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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