Scoop: Trump has big fundraising plans for VP
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Fundraising ability will be a key factor in former President Trump's choice for his running mate, Republican sources tell Axios.
Why it matters: Whoever Trump picks, raising cash will be one of the would-be VP's top assignments for the rest of the campaign.
- Clicking with Trump, and skill on TV, remain essential prerequisites.
- And although the campaign has received waves of donations since Trump was convicted, money is still a priority.
Zoom in: That helps explain why several of the top contenders to be Trump's VP pick — namely North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) — have been particularly active on the fundraising circuit lately.
- The Trump-controlled Republican National Committee has been hashing out a fundraising plan for his eventual VP pick, Axios has learned.
- The RNC's finance team has been meeting every Wednesday to discuss vice presidential fundraising, a person familiar with the committee's planning tells Axios.
There are plans for Trump and his VP pick to host a reception in Milwaukee on July 17, during the Republican National Convention, that will be called the "Strength in Unity Reception."
- The event will raise money for the Trump 47 Committee, the Save America PAC, the RNC and state Republican parties, in that order of priority.
The intrigue: Trump has said he'll announce his running mate soon, and the RNC's plans suggest he'll have done so by July 17, the third day of the convention.
Driving the news: Last night, Trump attended a Cleveland fundraiser organized by Vance and Ohio nursing home developer Brian Colleran that brought in more than $5.5 million, according to a person familiar with the event.
- Vance has been lobbying some of the heaviest hitters in Silicon Valley to back Trump and set up a fundraising dinner with tech entrepreneur David Sacks in San Francisco.
On Wednesday, Burgum had a call with a seven-figure Republican donor that was set up by RNC finance chair Meredith O'Rourke.
- Next Tuesday, Burgum will be doing a Zoom fundraiser with Doug Lebda, CEO of the online loan marketplace LendingTree. That also was organized by the RNC, according to a copy of the invitation.
Scott also frequently has been asked by Trump's team to make fundraising calls on Trump's behalf, people familiar with the situation told Axios.
- Scott on Wednesday held a policy summit in Washington, D.C., with billionaires including Ken Griffin and Bill Ackman, who supported Trump's rivals in the primaries.
The other side: The Trump team's emphasis on fundraising for his VP pick comes as President Biden's campaign is chiding Trump, suggesting the former president is scrambling for cash because of his massive legal bills.
- Spokespeople for Vance, Burgum, Scott and Trump's campaign declined to comment.
