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.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

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.